New lease on life for Rainbow Serpent water feature 

GUNNEDAH’S much-loved Rainbow Serpent water feature, located outside the Cultural Precinct, has received a new lease on life after extensive restoration works.

The project was carried out by Waterforms International and included the restoration of 29 glass mosaic tiles individually designed and hand-crafted by nine women in the Kamilaroi Women’s Group – the late Ellen Draper with Shirley Long, Janet Wanless, the late Delma Jones, Gloria Foley, Cindy Foley, June Cox, Alison Cox and Rita Long.

The 500mm mosaics, featuring traditional motifs, totems and stories, are cradled by the curves of the shimmering 9.2m Rainbow Serpent – a central figure in Kamilaroi Dreaming stories.

The mosaics, created almost 20 years ago, suffered direct and prolonged exposure to the elements due to the water feature’s west-facing position. The conditions resulted in the element’s erosion after the artwork was installed in 2020.

In March 2021, the water feature was celebrated on the national stage, winning silver in the Australian Street Art Awards for Best Rural Art.

Work on the restoration was delivered in four stages from March to May this year and funded by a grant of $50,640 from the Office of Responsible Gambling Club Grants Category 3 Fund (Arts & Culture) that was matched by the council.

The council’s community and social planner, Debra Hilton, said the artists were consulted before the works began and they were fully supportive of the restoration process.

“The painstaking task of restoring the tiles was carried out by Waterforms International stone mason specialists Dimitar and Svetlana Todorovski who worked tirelessly on site to bring the serpent back to life,” she said.

“The techniques the Todorovskis have used to adhere the tiles are more suited to outdoor projects and constant exposure to the elements and will reduce future issues associated with loose tiles.

“We thank Dimitar and Svetlana for their meticulous approach and relentless dedication to this significant project.”
Hilton said the Rainbow Serpent and lower pond were also drained, cleaned, resurfaced and recommissioned.

“We are thankful to Waterforms for taking on this major project and restoring the entire water feature to its former glory,” she said.

Aerial view of the completed upgrades to the Rainbow Serpent water feature. Photo: supplied.

Waterforms director and designer Dirk Slotboom said the repaired mosaics were “very true” to the original work of the Kamilaroi women.

“To us, it’s a very special project,” he said.Waterforms and the council handed the water feature back over to the community in May and nine Kamilaroi women, including six of the original artists and two of the late Ellen
Draper’s daughters, Jackie and Fiona, were there to see the revamped water feature first-hand.

Artist Gloria Foley said they wanted to acknowledge the two Kamilaroi Elders who had died over the course of the project – Ellen Draper and Delma Jones.

“All of us girls worked really hard,” she said.

“It was Aunt Ellen Draper that brought us together.

“It’s so much better than it was before.”

The council’s community and development director, Andrew Johns, said the community must now work with the council to look after the Rainbow Serpent.

“Over the years, the water feature has been regularly climbed on and the pond has been used as a dog pool, which accelerated its deterioration,” he said.

“We ask residents to respect this cultural icon for what it is and not treat it as street furniture, so we can continue to enjoy its vibrance and beauty for years to come.

“This award-winning artwork is a much-loved landmark, and we want to ensure it is preserved for future generations.”