Year: 2001 Location: Eltham Town Square, Commercial Place, Eltham
In October 2000, Council invited three artists from the region (Deborah Halpern, Matcham Skipper and Tony Trembath) to submit designs for a sculpture/public artwork for the Eltham Town Square.
The commission was funded by super-market giant Safeway as part of its supermarket permit, which required them to contribute to beautification work in the Town Square.
This is the third of three parts. The 'Spirit of Nillumbik' is a celebration of the artistic spirit of Eltham and surrounding communities. Each area is identified through the flora and fauna represented in the panels. The work honours the many creative artists and architects, past and present, who have built homes and shaped lives and livelihoods with their unique creative spirit.
Halpern describes her work as a public expression of their individual and collective visions. Halpern acknowledges these contributions to our hand-made history and the influence they have on the character and identity of Eltham and Nillumbik.
Realistic depiction of 'chocolate lilies' in wrought iron (three flowers in bloom, four large buds and six small buds). Chocolate lilies are indigenous to Nillumbik.