York Visitor Centre 81 Avon Terrace, York, Western Australiap: (08) 9641 1301 f: (08) 96412202e: info@york.wa.gov.au www. visit.york.wa.gov.au

What isWara Art?

Murray CodDjiljit (Noongar general term for Fish)Maccullochella peelii

The Murray cod is the largest freshwater fish in Australia and is unrelated to the northern hemisphere cod. It is carnivorous and eats other fish, larger specimens sometimes taking small birds, turtles and snakes. Populations are now estimated to be around only 10% of those that existed before European settlement.

Murray cod are still a legitimate target for recreational anglers, but are now listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

RakaliRakali (Noongar)Hydromys chrysogaster

The Rakali or Water Rat is semi aquatic, living in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries. In early European settlement times they were hunted for their soft fur. Populations have recovered in all states with the exception of Western Australia.

Here in the wheatbelt, they have a ‘near threatened’ status. The York River Conservation Society monitors local Rakali numbers and works to improve riverside habitats.

In Japan, rice straw has traditionally been used to create utilitarian objects such as tatami mats. With the advent of manmade materials, farmers have been left with an excess of rice straw at the end of their rice harvest. In 2008, the farming community of Niigata contacted Musashino Art University for creative direction on turning their surplus rice straw into works of art and so Wara Art was born. Wara Art Festivals are now held all over Japan and each year communities and art students come together to build new giant straw sculptures.

Wara Art in Australia started in York with the creation of sculptures made using locally sourced wheat straw harvested in traditional stooks. With designs by the founders of Wara Art Japan, Shingo Miyajima and Masaharu Noguchi, the Australian sculptures feature Australian endangered fauna. They form the highlight of The York Festival and will remain in their new ‘habitats’ until the end of their natural life.

These amazing creations are the collaboration of Japanese artists Akira Moriya, Shingo Miyajima, Masaharu Noguchi and Australian artists, Fiona Gavino, Yuko Takahashi, Ako Roberts, Nalda Searles, Sharyn Egan and Annette Nykiel, project co-ordinator Ilsa Bennion and hundreds of volunteers from the York community and across WA.

NumbatNhumbat/Noombat/Walpurti (Noongar)Myrmecobius fasciatus

There are fewer than 1,000 Numbats left in the wild, mostly in South-West Western Australia. They live in Eucalypt woodlands where there are plentiful supplies of their exclusive food, termites, which they seek out with their long, sensitive noses.

Numbats are active during daylight and very vulnerable to predation by foxes and cats.Habitat destruction and fires also threaten their existence.

Western Ground ParrotKyloring ( Noongar)

Pezoporus flaviventris

Once found across the whole coast of south-west Australia, they are now almost extinct with fewer than 150 birds left in the wild.

These occupy two Nature Reserves on the south coast of Western Australia.

Bushfires in October and November 2015 burnt much of the birds’ known habitat, further threatening the species’ already uncertain future.

BilbyDalkitj (Noongar)

Macrotis lagotis

With long pinkish-coloured ears and silky, blue-grey fur, the Bilby has become Australia’s version of the Easter Bunny. Unlike the rabbit, Bilby numbers are falling rapidly and they are now listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.

Once two species, the Greater Bilby is now known simply as the Bilby since the Lesser Bilby became extinct in the 1950s.

Western Swamp TortoiseYarginy / Yarkiny (Noongar)Pseudemydura umbrina

The Western Swamp Tortoise was believed to be extinct until rediscovered in 1953.

It is the most endangered Australian reptile. With limited numbers and habitat remaining they are very vulnerable to any changes including land clearing for housing and agriculture, use of pesticides and fertilisers and fire.

Creatures

VISIT.YORK.WA.GOV.AU

York TrailsYork Trails

Wara ArtWara Art

Wara Art

Find 30 by walking the Wara Art Trail! 30 minutes is the recommended amount of moderate intensity physical activity every day

Take water on the trail! There are up to 16 teaspoons of sugar in a 600ml bottle of soft drink

Be sunsmart! Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as you walk the trail

Organised by The York Festival, the Wara Art project in Australia is funded by Festivals Australia, the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Creative Industries, Healthways and the Shire of York.

Ngala Kaaditj Ballardong Noongar Moort Keyen Kaadak Nidja Boodja

We acknowledge the Ballardong Noongar People as the Traditional Custodians of the land in this area.

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Photographer: Isolated PhotographyPhotographer: J Bryant

Photographer: J Garroun

Photographer: Isolated Photography Photographer: J Garroun Photographer: J Garroun

1 Bilby

2 Western Swamp Tortoise

3 Murray Cod

4 Rakali5 Numbat

6 Western Ground Parrot

5 NumbatNhumbat/Noombat/Walpurti (Noongar) Myrmecobius fasciatus

3 Murray CodDjiljit (Noongar general term for Fish) Maccullochella peelii

2 Western Swamp Tortoise

Yarginy / Yarkiny (Noongar)Pseudemydura umbrina

1 BilbyDalkitj (Noongar)Macrotis lagotis

4 RakaliRakali (Noongar) Hydromys chrysogaster

Sculpture locations

1 Visitor Centre - York Town Hall

Public Toilets

Poole St

How

ick St

Monger St

Grey St

South St

Joaquina St

Broome St

Henrietta St

Balladong St

South St

Railw

ay St

Lowe St

Christie Retreat

Neville St

Macartney St

Janet M

Ford StFord St

Stephen St

Avon Terrace

Avon Terrace

Faversham House guest entrance drive

Gt Southern Hwy to York Olive OilWestern Ground Parrot7.5km from York

Centennial Drive

5

4

2 3

1

Ashworth Rd 7.5km from York Visitor Centre

York Olive Oil2.6km from Great Southern Hwy

Ashworth Rd YORK

Great Southern Hwy

6

Where to Find Us

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Colouring-in artwork by Darren Hutchens

6 Western Ground Parrot

Kyloring ( Noongar) Pezoporus flaviventris

Parking

ColourUs in