About This Project

Bonbird, by collaborative artists James and Eleanor Avery, has taken up residence at the end of the arbour near the entrance/exit to Bonbeach Station.  The playful sculpture references various aspects of the surrounding coastal environment. Its bird-like form is loosely inspired by the glass insulators made by the Australian Glass Manufacturers, who once used sand quarried on the Bonbeach railway for use in their glass. The form of the quiff references waves, rolled up beach towels and periwinkle shells that are found in shell middens of Traditional Owners on nearby clifftops. The black and white were chosen to reference the striped swim caps of the Bonbeach Life Saving Club.The blue of the bird will complement the new station’s architectural design, which also reflects the sea and the Bonbeach beach huts that line the coast.

With its confluence of references and eye-catching design, the Bonbird is an iconic placemaker and a contribution to the cultural fabric of the area.

The work was commissioned by the Level Crossing Removal Project for the Edithvale, Chelsea and Bonbeach Project.