Welcome to Hedland Weekender

Past Event


We’re celebrating South Hedland’s 50th anniversary in style with the Welcome to Hedland Weekender – a three-day event with something for everyone!

In collaboration with No More Blank Walls, this is Hedland’s first ever Street Art Festival which will showcase murals, live art, workshops, street art tours and artist talks.

Included in this celebration will be the official launch of the Hedland Histories book, created by the Owls at the Community Expo on Friday evening. 

Performances by local artists (dance, theatrical, sport/recreation and musical) and demonstrations from select stalls will be on display at the Community Expo on Friday evening. 

The venue for the event is South Hedland Town Square.

Hedland Street Art Festival

Friday 12 May to Sunday 14 May

South Hedland’s first Street Art Festival, hosted by Blank Walls, brings community and art together to represent the diverse South Hedland history. All murals have been influenced by stories of our community, including our youth, Older, Wiser Library Seniors, through their Hedland Memories book being launched this week, Kariyarra Elders and the wider community. We have local artists from Spinifex Hill Studio moving from canvas to walls, with support from experienced artists through Blank Walls. You can join the fun too!

Visit the No More Blank Walls stall, located outside Lotteries House, for all booking requests for art tours, paint and sip and the gallery launch, and to find out more about the South Hedland Street Art Festival including showcasing of one of our two youth-led murals, thanks to the students of the Polly Farmer Foundation and facilitated by Honey.

Featured Artists

ASH TAYLOR

Ash Taylor is a multi-disciplinary creative based in Brisbane, Australia, working across illustration, murals and graphic design. Her mural practice began in Ecuador in 2019, followed by walls in Peru, Argentina and now Australia. Her work reads stylised vibrancy with carefully curated colours and usually features a harmony of flora, fauna and figures.

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AYRES

Over the past 15 years Drew has completed many private and public commissions and coordinated and facilitated various public art projects and community workshops. Drew has developed a unique and personal style that is appreciated by both graffiti and mainstream audiences, which makes his murals particularly resistant to graffiti damage. He can work in a variety of styles when required, from staying on brand to creating something completely unique.

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BOBBI LOCKYER

Bobbi is a colour-obsessed, queer feminist who is spearheading change in social spaces through art. Her creative output is massively influenced by stories of the past, the colours of country and the waves of the ocean, along with her deep-rooted passion for the community and dream of a better world. In 2021 Bobbi was named NAIDOC Artist of the year, became a board member for Regional Arts WA and entered her second year as a creator for Nikon. Bobbi has had her art and photography published across the world including in Vogue magazine and has had clothing featured on the Paris Fashion Week runway.

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HONEY

John aka Honey has dedicated his career to creating large scale, vibrant works of contemporary urban art. Works you live and work beside on a daily basis. Art created to be seen by everyone.

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JACK BROMELL

Jack Bromell is a self-taught, Italian-Australian artist who has been working professionally since late 2015. His work is characterised by an intricate, illustrative style and is inspired heavily by nature, feelings and dreams.

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KIMBERLEY MCKIE

I was born in Perth and moved to Port Hedland very young, grew up here and went to school here. I have an older brother and two younger sisters. I started to paint in school but didn’t really take it up much as a hobby until I graduated high school. I like to copy pictures and paint whatever is on my mind, I was an arts worker at Spinifex since February 2019 and then was studio coordinator. I love art itself and the creation of art. I love seeing other people interpret it in their own way. It’s good that I get to be a part of that and help them. I started taking up weaving with my mum (Lorna Dawson) and I now make hand-woven earrings made out of raffia and wool.

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LORNA DAWSON

I was born in Port Hedland, we was raised in Perth and we come back here in my early teens. I’m the mother of four beautiful children and a sister to 14 siblings. For me I started painting as a personal journey. I picked up a few skewers (used for dot painting) and it helped me get through my bad days. I just paint in dots, I dabble in dots as I like to say. Sometimes I paint animals, sometimes I paint the country.

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ART BY ROW

I am highly influenced by the graffiti/street art movement, and focus on the ability to express myself on an interactive and communal scale. I enjoy the positive impact my artwork can have on the target audience, in combination with the particular setting/space and other visual stimulus, all coming together to produce a harmonious composition.

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RUBY DJIKARRA ALDERTON

I am a Yolngu woman from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land. As a child I spent a lot of time with my mother while she was creating her art. Later, as a teenager she then encouraged me to help her paint her bark paintings, create her prints and edition them with her. This led me to working at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Arts Centre as a printmaker and arts worker for 3 years. Then, I moved to Newcastle as an independent artist. During that time I worked with Artback NT & Buku with a touring exhibition from Yirrkala, Balnhdurr – A Lasting Impression. Now I live in South Hedland, WA and work at Spinifex Hill Studio. My art has always had a huge influence from my Yolngu heritage. What I create is both old and new stories using traditional and non-traditional mediums. I only paint the Rirratjingu clan designs, which is my mother’s clan and the designs and stories that I inherited. I love to be able to share my knowledge and culture whenever the opportunity arises.

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SUGAR

Alex Sugar is a Melbourne-based realism painter well-known for his largescale murals and studio works depicting native Australian flora and fauna. He merges this distinctive style with still life and surreal components. His work with councils conceptually considers the current socio-cultural and historic roots of the site - contributing assets that are both relevant to the community, and act as distinctive artworks in themselves. To date, his mural work can be found across Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Paris, Berlin, London and Barcelona. He has been featured in numerous group exhibitions, and has successfully sold out a number of solo shows. Alex Sugar has been featured in Jetstar In-Flight Magazine, Street Art Australia, The Bellarine Times, among others.

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YOYO

Yoyo is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist working out of Newcastle St Collective Studio in Perth, Western Australia. His focus is mainly on murals and canvas though on occasion sculpture, installation and photography also play a part in his work. His background in traditional graffiti as well as stage productions in Australia and USA have brought many opportunities to exhibit including multiple solo and group exhibitions. Spending time in nature has helped acquaint Yoyo with local landscapes and fauna, which is his favourite subject matter to date.

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Street art festival map

 

street art festival event programme

 

Hedland Community Expo

Friday 12 May 

The Hedland Community Expo allows local Hedland based businesses, community groups, volunteer organisations, artists and performers a chance to introduce themselves to the world . The focus is all about welcoming new residents and giving them an opportunity to socialise and meet others in the community, as well as introduce them to the many great businesses and groups. Bring the family down to check out the entertainment!

Stage Program

5:00pm

Captain Cleanup

5:35pm

HATch

5:45pm

Official Event Welcome 

6:00pm

Street Art Festival - Artist Talks

6:30pm

Baler Primary School Choir

6:45pm

Jabat Dance

7:00pm

Street Art Festival - Artist Talks

7:25pm

HATch

7:30pm

PHIRE Hedland

Stall holders

Activate South Hedland 
Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation 
Australian Border Force 
BHP
Blank Walls
Bloodwood Tree Association Inc
Caine Otley Real Estate
Care for Hedland Environmental Association
Category 5 Labour 
Civmec Construction and Engineering 
Compass Group - ESS Gateway Village 
De Grey Mining 
East Pilbara District Health Advisory Council 
Emeco Group
EPIC - Empowering People in Communities 
Fortescue Metals group
Goodline 
Grow Strong Lactation and Physiotherapy
Hatch 
Headspace Hedland 
Hedland Bush Fire Brigade
Hedland Community Living Association 
Hedland Health Campus
Hedland Psychologists
Hedland SES
Hedland Well Women's Centre 
Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC + West Australian Branch of Labor Party
Horizon Power 
Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation 
MacKillop Family Services
Mission Australia
North Regional TAFE
Outback Beef
Pharmacy 777 Port Hedland 
PHLAGS+
Pilbara Community Legal Services
Pilbara Music Festival (Incorporated)
Pilbara Origins 85 
Pilbara Ports Authority 
Port Hedland Game Fishing Club
Port Hedland Industries Council 
Port Hedland International Airport 
Port Hedland Resident's Association 
Roy Hill
South Hedland Volunteer Fire and Rescue
St John Ambulance
Tail Wagz Dog Training 
The Glow Spot
The Junction Co
Thriving Futures 
Town of Port Hedland 
Town of Port Hedland Youth Team
Track Protection Australia 
Volunteering WA
Wirraka Maya
WL Thompson 

food vendors

Cab City Food Truck 
Chef Bistro
Frozen Cones 
Mesmerising Delights of India
Scoops 'N Sips
The Twisty Foodie 
Wedge Street Café

jd hardie youth skate activity

Come along to the South Hedland Skate Park and get your skate on with professional skaters from Bento Skate running workshops for basic skateboard skills as well as mad skate skills like drop ins, manuals and kickflips!

If skateboarding isn’t your thing pump out some tunes with DJ Hijacked or just come along for a sausage and get among the thrills and spills! 

accessibility 

An accessible viewing area has been designated near the stage.

The venue has accessible toilet (Unisex Right and Left Hand) and parking facilities.

A quiet zone will be available for any attendees to utilise at the event, this will include sensory activities and headphones.

If you have any specific questions regarding accessibility, please contact the Town of Port Hedland Events Team on 9158 9300 or events@porthedland.wa.gov.au

community patrol service

Bloodwood Tree’s Community Patrol will be at the event with a pickup/drop off location off Rason Link. Last pick up time from South Hedland Town Square is 8:45pm.

parking 

Parking for all attendees is available in the South Hedland Shopping Centre main car park on the corner of Throssell Road and Forrest Circle. A pickup/drop off zone is located off Rason Link.

Information and safety

If you have any questions, have lost something or someone or need medical attention, approach one of our friendly Event Staff or visit the Information Desk as per the event map. In the event of an emergency follow the directions of the Event Staff.

toilets

Toilets for the event are available inside South Hedland Shopping Centre including accessible toilets and a parent’s room. 

food and drink

There will be food stalls at the event however, attendees are also encouraged to support the nearby Charter Hall food outlets who will be open during the event.

You can bring your own food however, no glass bottles or containers please. Please note this is an alcohol-free event.

seating

There will be a small number of tables and chairs at the event for attendees to utilise. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own rugs or chairs to watch the performances.

smoking

A smoking zone will be available for attendees at the event as per the site map. Please be respectful of other patrons and only smoke in the designated area and dispose of your butts in the bin provided.

keep south hedland beautiful

Let’s ‘Do the right thing’ at the South Hedland Town Square and surrounds. Please dispose of your litter in the waste and recycling bins provided.

further information

If you still have questions in relation to the event after reading this information, please contact the Events Team on 9158 9300 or email events@porthedland.wa.gov.au

event posters 

 

welcome to hedland feedback survey

We'd love to hear what you thought of the Welcome to Hedland event via a short survey. Your feedback will provide valuable information to the Town of Port Hedland about the impact of arts and cultural events. We thank you for your participation.

Welcome to Hedland 2023 (culturecounts.cc)

 


Event Details

Venue: South Hedland Town Square

Cost: Free

Category: General

Type: General

Audience: All Ages

Enquiries

Organisation: Town of Port Hedland

Phone: (08) 9111 5000

Email: events@porthedland.wa.gov.au

Event Date(s)

  • Friday 12th May 2023
  • Saturday 13th May 2023
  • Sunday 14th May 2023

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