The William Ricketts Sanctuary is one of the most beautiful and serene places I’ve visited.
Located in a ferny glade in the Dandenongs, the William Ricketts Sanctuary features amazing and haunting clay sculptures of Aboriginal people nestled among the trees.
Although not an Aboriginal person himself, William Ricketts (1898-1993) spent time among the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people of central Australia. Their traditions and culture inspired his sculptures. Ricketts had a deep respect for Aboriginal spirituality and a profound love for the natural world. His vision of a modern Australia that embraces these themes, as well as his sadness over the treatment of Aboriginal peoples, is fully present and deeply felt. Ricketts was not a trained potter and he was never rich, but he supported himself through commissioned sales of his art. He worked on his sculpture park until his death in 1993.
William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place for quiet reflection and contemplation and it is worth visiting again and again and agin. We spent a couple of hours following the meandering paths and I was so moved by the serenity, the natural surroundings, and mystical statues. Each one is more beautiful than the last.
To find out more about William Ricketts Sanctuary, visit Parks Victoria here.
lovely pictures! thanks for sharing!!! such a haunting and beautiful place!
Thanks for sharing these. I’ve been in Melbourne 18 months (and am leaving in 6) and this is one of the few places in Victoria that I havent found my way to, but is on my must-see list. Your pictures definitely helped motivate me to get there.
Thank you! This place is very special and I get the sense it doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Such beautiful photos. I had never even heard of the place until I saw your entry; will definitely make it over there in the next month or so… Thanks!
Thanks. It’s something of a hidden treasure, I think. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.