Elliston Clifftop Sculpture Drive: Ron takes in some of the beauty of the Eyre Peninsula on the West Coast of South Australia

On the wild west coast of Eyre Peninsula - a stone's throw from the farming community of Elliston - time, wind and the relentless pounding of the waves from out in the Great Australian Bight have all combined to create something awesome and very special.

Every two years artists from around Australia gather at Elliston to add just a little bit more to this sculpture park by the sea. The first cliff top sculpture symposium was held back in 2002 as part of Statewide festivities to mark the voyages of both Matthew Flinders and Nicholas Baudin. The English navigator and his French counterpart hugged the South Australian coastline back then, mapping the features of what was then called "The Unknown Coast".

To mark the anniversary and the story of all the others who've crashed into our shores ever since, artist John Turpie erected the first piece to grace Elliston's cliff top drive and walk.

"It's called 'Everybody's a Boat Person'. This old boat was found in a backyard in Elliston and it's part of a composition about jetty timbers, boats, houses, new discovery, and immigration. The whole idea or concept of how Australia was founded by people in boats apart from the original inhabitants, who might have walked here."

From a backyard boat swinging in the breeze to a salmon pole - with it's portent of good fishing in Waterloo Bay beyond… it's all part of a sculpture park which started as a bit of laugh for some of the locals and has grown and grown.

"It's a rugged fantastic arena to put sculptures. The coastline itself is just absolutely stunning but the moment you put some art work on it just double up in value."

The turn off to the Elliston Clifftop Sculpture Drive is on the outskirts of town. Just head out on the main road to Streaky Bay and look for the sign.

The fourth Sculptures on the Cliff Event will be held next year from the 28th of March 2009 and will run for three months. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Published 16th November 2008