Rainbow seat in Surfers Walk

Past

13 Oct

There is a new seat in Surfers Walk funded by donations from ten full-time and part-time Sandy Point residents, with assistance from the Sandy Point Community Group. It is part of the town centre rejuvenation project, which also aims to add more community seating in Sandy Point. We hope this seat will become a place to sit and talk, a place for developing friendships.

The donors, ‘Friends of Sandy Point’, have provided the funding as a gift, to thank Sandy Point, and to remember family members. Our Sandy Point resident who started the project with their initial donation, said “Sandy Point has given me so much ! A refuge from the crazy city life”.

Another donor described the seat as “providing an opportunity for contemplative moments, slow-down-and -stare kind of moments, and maybe talk to someone you haven’t met before”.

The Surfers Walk seat (also known as the Rainbow Seat, Beach Couch and Surfers Seat) has been designed by local metal fabricator and designer, Trevor Wheeler. Trevor is well known for the seats he created in Fish Creek and the sculptures outside the Gallery/Library in Foster. The Foster sculptures were made as part of a community arts project called ‘Collaborating with Chaos’.

The Surfers Walk seat is designed for several people to sit together, with extra seating provided by the wide arms, which also provide a perfect place to balance a coffee. The bench and arms are made of Silvertop Ash. The unique ‘Sandy Point’ back has been made from an obsolete fire danger sign and other old coloured tourist destination and road signs, provided by the South Gippsland Shire Council. The back features Wilsons Prom with a rainbow and Waratah Bay with birds and fish.

After the site for the seat was cleared by Rob Nicholson and Rob O’Sullivan, Trevor Wheeler installed the new seat onto the concrete plinth made by Rob O’Sullivan. The SPCG will also be investigating some landscaping for the area around the seat.

Perhaps the Surfers Walk seat will be the first of several iconic Sandy Point seats. If you are interested in a new seating project, please contact the Sandy Point Community group.

Email: info@sandypoint.vic.au