Welcome to the ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk update! We have plenty to share with you: signage has gone up, construction has begun, and our first Artist Residency has walked the trails...

In an important milestone for ngurrak barring, signage is going in along the trails of the 'Country' themed experience. The ‘Country’ theme runs from Kallista, into Belgrave and all the way to Birdsland in Belgrave Heights.

The signage suite includes wayfinding, information, and interpretive signs. These informative signs tell the story of connection to Country, and celebrate artists that have been inspired by the Dandenong Ranges.

Excitingly, the two 'Storm Leaves' sculptures by local artist Anton McMurray, that will sit at the trailheads of the 'Country' theme, will be in installed by early December.

The 'Ways of Seeing' theme runs from Montrose, up to Kalorama and into Mt Dandenong. Aboriginal and European artists have depicted the Dandenong Ranges through their respective lenses, developing nationally significant artistic styles distinctive to the region. The Architectural Node and artworks within 'Ways of Seeing' explore the evolving relationship between artists and the land.

Kalorama will be home to two significant artworks.

'Regeneration – The Listening Place', in Kalorama Park has begun installation. Every care has been taken to ensure the construction period has as little impact as possible, including temporary fencing that will sit below sight lines, ensuring an uninterrupted view of Silvan Dam from the lookout area. Three car spaces at the viewing point may be inaccessible during construction. No local businesses will be impacted by the works.

The piece is inspired by William Barak’s paintings and drawings of the area, and on Edna Walling’s celebrated environmental design. We look forward to celebrating this beautiful, considered, site-specific artwork with the community in 2025.

'Djirra Binak' is a meaningful artwork by established public artists, Wurundjeri Elder and master weaver Aunty Kim Wandin and Chris Joy. Situated along Ridge Road in a culturally significant place, the disturbed bushland will also be re-established with Indigenous fibre plants and other native species through a thoughtfully designed revegetation effort.

Installation works will begin on site late November. Community members will be invited to an official opening of the site, when the artwork and revegetation is complete in early 2025.

The first artist residency has walked the trails of ngurrak barring.

Place-responsive artists Gretel Taylor, Laki Sideris, Gulsen Ozer, Tammy Wong Hulbert, Jill Orr, Mandy Nicholson, Jill Orr, Aarti Jadu and Rebecca Murray have immersed themselves in ngurrak barring, over a 3-day, 39km walk, across the Dandenong Ranges/Corhanwarrabul.

The artists shared their practices and approaches to place, as a mobile, immersive professional development. One aim is to consider what it means to 'listen to Country' through their diverse perspectives. Reflections and photos from the residencies have been shared in an online journal. The artists will also develop responses for a subsequent multi-arts exhibition that reflects their experiences of walking together and connecting to the experience of ngurrak barring.

RMIT's Future Play Lab and YRC have been working together to develop an immersive digital experience that will turn your walk along ngurrak barring into a world of discovery. Led by RMIT researchers, artists, musicians, writers and performers have created playable artworks that respond to this unique environment in imaginative and unexpected ways.

The 'Walking With' app will respond to beacons placed along three of ngurrak barring's trails. May Moon Track in Kalorama is the first segment, and beta testing is beginning in December. Feedback from testers will inform the final mobile application

If you would be interested in taking part of the testing phase, please reach out via ridgewalk@yarraranges.vic.gov.au before the 1st of December.

Crossing roads intersecting with ngurrak barring trails to get to the popular Birdsland, in Belgrave Heights has been made safer with the addition of dedicated pedestrian crossing points at both McNicol Road and Kaola Road, Belgrave. A pedestrian refuge island, improved pathways, accessibility strip and wider access ways for prams have been delivered as part of the ngurrak barring trail upgrades.