Community art and culture
Art has the power to lift the soul, whether you’re creating it or simply enjoying a piece of artwork in the environment around you. Our community is home to vibrant and creative arts scene and there are a variety of community arts groups in the region.
Local art groups
Please see below some of the local groups available in our community
Moulamein is home to a locally-run art gallery. Visitors and locals can enjoy coffee and cake while admiring a range of art from local artists. The group, led by volunteers, has run for more than 20 years and brings arts tuition to Moulamein and outlying areas. With workshops held regularly and a space to display an impressive collection of creative works, the Moulamein Art Gallery is a great little treasure for experienced or aspiring artists.
You can visit the art group at 33 Morago St, Moulamein.
The Echuca Moama Arts Initiative (EMAI) promotes arts and culture in the local area. It runs workshops and performances, while securing space for exhibitions. EMAI has opened The Foundary Arts Space on Murray Esplanade. It provides a wide variety of exciting projects and exhibitions.
The Echuca Moama Artists run the Alton Gallery located in Alton Reserve. It provides arts classes and social painting. The gallery is open to the public on Fridays between 10am and 3pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. Each month a Guest Artist is featured.
You can visit Echuca Moama Artists at Alton Reserve, Hare Street, Echuca.
Public art
Murray River Council supports and encourages the development of public art opportunities that preserve, emphasise and enhance our local history and identity. These range from temporary artworks in streets to established displays which have lasted over decades.
A leisurely stroll along the riverbanks of Barham and Koondrook will allow you to marvel at statues carved out of Redgum. These chainsaw carvings exhibit exceptional
craftsmanship and provide a wonderful narrative drawing on the stories of our great pioneers and those of our local animals. The trail commences at Riverside Park in Barham
and finishes in the main street of Koondrook, you can pick up a map at the newsagency on Noorong Street in Barham.
The ARTback sculptures lie along the Long Paddock Touring Route, which follows the stock route along the Cobb Highway. This route stretches from Echuca-Moama on the Victorian border, through to Wilcannia and onto the iconic outback towns of Bourke, Broken Hill & White Cliffs. There are eleven major public artworks along the route, reflecting the heart and soul of our small rural communities.
A series of timber sculptures lie along the Long Paddock Touring Route, which follows the stock route along the Cobb Highway. These sculptures are designed to pay tribute
to the significant economic and social contribution of the timber industry to the region, with timber cutters and barge masters depicted along the way. This route stretches from
Echuca-Moama on the Victorian border, through to Wilcannia and onto the iconic outback towns of Bourke, Broken Hill and White Cliffs.
The Moama and Echuca Botanic Gardens are located central to Moama at the Moama Recreation Reserve, Perricoota Road, Moama. The Gardens are situated next to the Moama Adventure Playpark and the sporting facilities of the Moama Recreation Reserve.
The Gardens began as a community idea to enhance the Recreation Reserve. Now fully supported by Murray River Council, and volunteers, they are a serene and peaceful space surrounded by play and sporting facilities.
An ongoing project designed by Landscape Architect Mr Chris Dance, the Gardens feature indigenous plantings and are contemporary, unique, water wise and Riverina themed. Three stages have been completed : the formal entrance garden with a boardwalk and lake, the Settlers Garden and Dry Billabong. The recent addition of a statue, La Belle Helene 2, by sculptor David Maughan adds significant interest and value to the Gardens.
The Friends of Moama Echuca Botanic Gardens Inc are committed to continue to work with Murray River Council to implement the designer's plan, stage by stage. The Committee meets on a regular basis to discuss works to achieve this goal, and volunteers gather every Monday morning to aid Council staff with garden maintenance. A "cuppa" and chat round off the mornings' activities. The enthusiastic group is always happy to welcome new members.
The Bridge Art Project's (BAP) steering committee was formed in 2012, with its aim to design and facilitate a monumental public art project based around the proposed Echuca Moama second bridge crossing and surrounds. Eight Hectares of land in Moama, adjacent to the future bridge alignment, has been donated for the Bridge Art project.
The BAP aims to provide a contemporary visual art-based record of the region’s pre and post-colonial cultural development with a focus on the rich traditions of the Yorta Yorta Nation - Australia’s largest aboriginal nation. The most accomplished visual story-tellers of our time, along with emerging designers, sculptors and artists will interpret the region’s epic history on traditional Yorta Yorta land in the Murray Goulburn region.