Dandenong South Gateway

Artist: Big Fish P/L
Film production: Mal Padgett, Mal Padgett Design
Completed:  2004

Aiming to reveal the unique qualities of the Dandenong South neighbourhood, its residents and social heritage, the Dandenong South Gateway project was developed in 2004 as a two-stage public art project.

The public art work acts as a gateway offering a visible and colourful contribution to the Dandenong Creek environment along Hammond Road that can be experienced by pedestrians and motorists.

The design was inspired by photographs collected from the Dandenong South Primary School students and from interviews of community members which encapsulate common themes of faith, family, cultural traditions and ceremony.

Dandenong South Gateway movie

Initially the project focused on discussions and activities that involved residents of Dandenong South sharing stories, ideas and insights of the local area. These ideas were expressed through photographs, text, audio recordings and film footage.

The material was compiled into an eight minute movie which describes the unique nature of the Dandenong South community. It was accepted into the Memory and Place collection at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square.

The movie was submitted to the Memory and Place collection at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). It was subsequently accepted and forms part of a state-wide collection that focuses on community works which explore the connection between people and place.

The movie describes the unique nature of the Dandenong South community and can be viewed at ACMI in the Memory Grid audio/visual space in Federation Square.