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Tony Trembath - The Fences Act, 1968 - Entrance to Edendale Community Farm

Location Off 30 Gastons Road,, ELTHAM VIC 3095 - Property No B6746 File Number B6746 Level Regional

[1/1] B6746 The Fences Act 1968

Statement of Significance

The Fences Act 1968 is a major installation work by Tony Trembath, created over a lengthy period but officially dated 1996. It was commissioned by the Eltham Council as a gateway to mark the boundary of a significant community facility in the area, Edendale Community Farm.The work is rustic and both large and informal, comprising a series of tree trunks with metal caps, suggesting groups of people talking, and other components suggesting buildings. The installation has particular significance to the location, in that it contains references that are both historical and social. The scale and complexity of the work reinforce its importance. Although the 'found nature' of the materials are usual elements in the artist's work, the monumental nature of these components is impressive.
The Fences Act 1968 is significant for aesthetic, historic and social reasons at a Regional level.
Why is it significant? The Fences Act 1968 is a unique work and is one of the very few permanent installations - most installations have been temporarily constructed inside the walls of a gallery. One other extremely large installation by Tony Trembath, On the Road to the Victoria and Albert Triangle - Flick Flick, Flush and Toot, at Bridport Primary School, South Melbourne was subsequently removed and destroyed, so the Eltham installation is the artist's major public work.
The artist worked with the community and absorbed significant aspects of local history, making reference to Eltham's agricultural past, the clearing of the land, the destruction of trees, the ruthless pruning of trees by suburban Councils, and incorporated such Australian features as the post and rail fence.The work is most appropriately sited at the entrance to the Edendale Community Farm.
Classified: 06/10/2003