Boolaroo

David Ball, Eolian

2021, corten steel
Located on the corner of Munibung and Lake Road, Boolaroo

Eolian frames the earth and sky encouraging audiences to explore differing views of the former Pasminco site and Munibung Hill, acknowledging the significance of these sites in Lake Macquarie’s history and its future.

The artist’s use of material is a direct reference to Boolaroo’s industrial history. To make steel, iron ore is first mined from the ground before undergoing a smelting process. The circular shape is a universal form attracting viewers to enjoy the experience of walking near and around this large-scale work.

For many Lake Macquarie residents, the former Pasminco site prompts mixed feelings. As the City’s largest industrial zone, it provided employment for many local families during its century of operation and contributed to the City’s economic development. The smelting and production process significantly altered the surrounding environment, the effects of which continue to be felt. Read more about the Sulphide Corporation and Boolaroo’s industrial history here.

The remediation and revitalisation of this site signals a dynamic chapter in Lake Macquarie’s growth and an exciting place for the community to work, live and play.

The artwork is part of the Lake Macquarie City Council Urban and Public Art Collection.

About the artist

David Ball is a nationally renowned artist with over four decades of experience working with large scale sculpture. With training in horticulture and smithery his affinity for landscape and form creates powerful work that links the industrial with the natural.

David considers every angle of his sculptures. "I tend to work classically. I believe sculpture should command and relate to a space, and work completely in the round, offering differing experiences from all angles, structure and poetry in one."

He enjoys the stories of steel, its relationship to humankind and the fact that, like stone, it comes from the earth and will eventually crumble back there.