Glenorchy Art And Sculpture Park

by Stephanie Williams

Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park (GASP) is seven kilometres north of Hobart. There is ample parking in the Derwent Entertainment Centre carpark.

The linear park extends from Wilkinsons Point, along the foreshore of Elwick Bay’s east edge, skirting Montague Bay High School, then follows the Brooker Highway to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

GASP features contemporary art works, walking and cycling paths, open parklands and wetlands. Scenic views stretch from Claremont to the Bowen Bridge, and across the river to the Eastern Shore.

We walked first to Wilkinsons Point, 550m past the Derwent Entertainment Centre. Explanatory boards detail the use of Wilkinsons Point for the reconstruction of the Tasman Bridge, 1975-1977, and the construction of the Bowen Bridge, 1980- 1984. This post-industrial area has been reimagined as a setting for new art. The buildings are designed to highlight the heritage of the site, and frame views of the Derwent River.

Retracing our steps, we then followed the path to Montrose Bay (1.7km). Two open air pavilions have several information boards, and offer shelter and seating.

*Wilkinson Point Pavilion frames the Derwent River*

The foreshore is a bird watcher’s heaven. We observed silver gulls, cormorants, ducks and swans at the outfall of Humphrey’s Rivulet. Waders were feeding in the mudflats. Ducks and native hens were grazing in the grassed areas. A lone pelican spread its wings among the cormorants and terns diving for fish.

We continued our walk past Montague Bay High, along the Brooker Highway. We stopped at a small reserve on Berriedale Bay, where we watched the MONA ferry dock, before retracing our steps to the Derwent Entertainment Centre carpark.

River views, quirky sculptures, diverse birdlife are highlights of this walk. Glenorchy City Council is to be commended for ensuring that the GASP linear park, with its multi-use, level concrete paths and boardwalks, multiple entry and exist points, and many resting places, is accessible to everyone, whatever their fitness level and mobility needs.

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