Restoration work on Gunnedah Shire's award-winning Rainbow Serpent Water Feature will begin in the new year, thanks to a State Government grant.
Gunnedah Shire Council has been successful in its application under the Office of Responsible Gambling Club Grants Category 3 Fund (Arts & Culture) for the refurbishment of the cultural icon at the entrance to The Cultural Precinct. The grant will contribute $50,640 to the project and Council will provide matching funding.
The spectacular water feature showcases the Rainbow Serpent - a central figure in Kamilaroi Dreaming stories - winding its way through 29 individually designed and hand-crafted glass mosaic tiles featuring traditional motifs, totems and stories.
Due to the water feature's west-facing position, and direct and prolonged exposure to the elements, the mosaics have eroded since the artwork was installed in 2020.
The mosaics are approximately 500mm in diameter and were created by nine women in the Kamilaroi Women's Group - the late Ellen Draper with Shirley Long, Janet Wanless, Delma Jones, Gloria Foley, Cindy Foley, June Cox, Alison Cox and Rita Long.
In 2020, the Rainbow Serpent won silver in the Australian Street Art Awards for Best Rural Art and took out the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award in the Local Government Awards.
Gunnedah Shire Council's Director Community and Development Andrew Johns said the restoration works would start early next year and were expected to take several months to complete due to the "painstaking" tile work.
"The refurbishment and the different methodology for adhering the tiles will reduce future issues associated with loose tiles. The techniques used for the restoration will be more suited to outdoor projects and constant exposure to the elements," he said.
"The Gunnedah Rainbow Serpent Water Fountain is a key cultural initiative that has significantly supported the promotion and preservation of Indigenous storytelling in the Gunnedah Shire."
"The vision is to restore the feature to its original magnificence, ensuring it is protected for future generations."
Caption: The award-winning Rainbow Serpent Water Feature will be restored in 2026.
