Housing the Port Macquarie Theatre, Regional Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre, the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre is a great place to visit, because not only does it have these things, but there are ruins in the basement!
If you want to find out what to see and do, or find accommodation, this is the place to go. The staff are super friendly and helpful and do their best to help you out.
In the basement, original foundations from the previous building in the area have been preserved. Other artifacts found during excavation are also on display.
Displayed in the foyer are PK Sparkles and Lady Lola the Dancing Koala from the Hello Koala Sculpture Trail. If you’re following the trail to see the koalas you get to see two in one location.
Behind the koalas the Regional Art Gallery had some interesting artworks on display. They feature a range of contemporary, indigenous, historical, traditional, design and sculptural artworks. During the course of the year, they rotate up to 20 exhibitions through the gallery, including touring exhibitions.
PK SparklesLady Lola the Dancing KoalaBotanical Hue Extraction by Edi ClelandLife’s Many Vicissitudes by Olivia CotovichBlended by Abbey MunroeConnecting with Country by Sonia Shields and Where are we Now by Katrina ManeThe Origin of the World by Minka GillianMother Eagles Going Hunting by Iluwante Ken
Located all over Port Macquarie and its surrounding districts on the NSW mid-north coast, the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a fun way to find your way around town. With many businesses and attractions sponsoring one or more of the sculptures it’s also a great way to make finding them more fun.
Each sculpture is hand-painted by Australian artists, featuring environmental, wellbeing, heritage or cultural designs.
We had fun finding them around town because they are often painted to fit it with the business that sponsors them. The koala outside the courthouse is a convict, while the ones at the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor is Lady Lola the Dancing Koala.
Hello Koalas Gift Shop
Located at Shop 16, 10 Bellbowrie Street in Port Macquarie, the Hello Koalas Gift Shop had around 17 koala sculptures waiting to find a home. This was a great visit, with lots of photos taken and souvenirs bought.
Here we also learned that they advocate to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our koalas and environment. As part of the national organisation Arts and Health Australia, funds raised from projects and events are distributed among essential environmental causes.
It’s an excellent way to promote the town, with large local population of koalas while raising awareness of the koalas’ plight. Threatened by land clearing for roads and houses, vehicle strikes, dog attacks, disease, drought and climate change, koalas face an uncertain future. The recent bushfires highlighted the dangers that koalas face.
Lion LeoKalidoMini-Koalasaurus MaxThe Mayor of Koala RepublicWinnie the UnicornOlly The Blue Eyed BoyGranny SquareTopiaryTully the Celtic KoalaPrincess LasiandraMandy the Mandala KoalaElvisRanger RileyKoala BoyRadiant HeartAugie the CyclistBushbyStarry SoulCrusader KoalaKoalasaurus MaxBuzzy BeeI’m No BearFlying FifieCon Koala outside the CourthouseBenjamin The Return of the Thylacine outside ABC Mid-North Coast
Sandy Paws at PanthersLady Lola the Dancing KoalaPK SparklesForestKoala NoirLachlan MacquarieBerry Delicious at Ricardoes Tomatoes & StrawberriesSunshine at the Koala Hospital
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Open until 14 May 2023, “Shuo Shu”, at the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippindale, Sydney shows the progression of story telling in China. Using various mediums from traditional paintings and sculptures to video displays it takes you on a journey from 4000 years ago to the present.
Opened in 2009, The White Rabbit Gallery showcases one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art.
Dedicated to works made in the 21st century, the White Rabbit Collection is owned by Judith Neilson, who to established it after her first trips to Beijing in the late 1990s. The Collection now includes almost 3000 works by almost 750 artists and continues to expand.
Refitted as an exhibition space by architect William Smart, the gallery building was once a Rolls-Royce service depot. Since the Gallery can house only a fraction of the collection at any one time, there are two new exhibitions a year, each involving a full rehang. For this reason, the Gallery closes during installations, usually in February and August.
The ground floor also has a Tea House serving snacks and drinks, which is a great place to relax while visiting.
Opening times are Wednesday to Sunday !0:00AM to 5:00PM. Entry is free.
The White Rabbit GalleryUncle by Wu Junwong
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
