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William Ricketts Sanctuary

Location

123-125 Ridge Road MOUNT DANDENONG, YARRA RANGES SHIRE

File Number

873

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

William Ricketts Sanctuary is a Sculpture Garden set in 15ha of native forest. It is important for demonstrating the creative portrayal of mythical Aboriginal figures placed in a forest setting and sculptured by William Ricketts, a musician and artist in 1935. The Sanctuary was established by William Ricketts so that he could express his philosophy about the ideal relationship between Aboriginal culture and the natural world. By his legends in clay he sought to make the Aborigines the missionaries to Europeans, reteaching them the brotherhood of all living things (Criterion F.1). (RNE, 015527)

The Sanctuary is highly valued by the community and visitors for aesthetic reasons as it exhibits intimate scenes of wet sclerophyll forest landscape with large mature trees, steep slopes and sharp crests combined with unusual evocative mythical clay sculptures (Criterion E.1). (RNE, 015527)

It is possible that cultural values, both indigenous and non-indigenous, of National Estate significance may exist in this place. As yet, the Australian Heritage Commission has not identified, documented or assessed these values. (RNE, 015527)

Group