Wilcannia - Sniffin Petrol

[Laurie]

Wilcannia is a very old town, a former great inland port on the Darling River in western NSW.

Wilcannia has it's share of problems and sadness.


Graffiti in the Old Hospital - Wilcannia

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Lesley (that's Yvonne) and I got amongst some early architecture, this arvo. I reckon there must be some pretty good graffiti artists around, with high moral standards, doing their best through their artistic medium to bring good sense to the masses.

[Shaddsi]

Great depiction of what problems and sadness are present mate..

[caralan]

Well spotted and a very poignant photo Laurie.

Worth a thousand words :(

[Laurie]

Not so sure now that the building is the old hospital, but doesn't matter much, huh.

Another graffiti image from the same building.


http://www.southimage.net/wilderness-travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/DSC_9905.jpg

I usually refrain from reproducing graffiti, statues and the like, simply because it's somebodie elses' artwork, not my own, but in this case I saw it as part of the urban landscape and created my own compositions with the artwork as one of the themes of the images.

The images are really studies of light, line, texture and colour in the context of the deterioration and destruction that pervades the town of Wilcannia.

I have about 15 images up on my blog. If you're interested, follow my sig link and then find Wilderness Travel in the sidebar.

We're in White Cliffs now. Got some great Sturt's Desert Peas on the way. In immaculate condition and beautifully lit with the mid morning sun.

[caralan]

Great lighting and compositions in the photos on your site. You have exposed these unknown artists to a wider, and hopefully appreciative, audience with your photographic eye and skills.

Looks like you are having a productive and enjoyable time :)

I'd love to see the Sturt's Desert Pea photos

Travel well

[Seesee]

Very poignant indeed, travelled through Wilcannia 2 days ago................a very dismal and godforsaken place indeed, there certainly is a real violent social disorder in that town, and we had an unsettling 5 minutes just driving through there when we were forced to stop by the not so friendly locals, got to experience first hand why many advise to never stop in Wilcannia.....scary stuff.

[vickim]

Yes it is a very sad town. Mike and I rode our motor-cyles from Sydney down to VIC across to Perth and back - and had to head back through Wilcannia. We were stopped on the way over to Perth and was told not to stop at Wilcannia and the advice kept coming from all sorts of people...was pretty amazing, to the point where it was freaking us out!! Being on Bikes, our fuel range was only 200km, so we had to plan our fuel stops perfectly, or risk stopping there. (we already had a run in on the way over on the Nullarbor at a fuel stop with the "locals", and thought that was bad enough at the time). But as it turned out - when we went through Wilcannia, the place was all but deserted - never saw a sole. But the stories we were told by Truckies, Grey Nomads and the likes were enough for us not to want to stop there.
I take my hat off to you for doing so Laurie!

[Laurie]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I was a bit worried about Lesley since she went wandering off by herself. But all is well!

While I was photographing the Queen's Head Hotel, I met my newest friend, Peter. In my view, Peter may have already had a bit too much to drink for the day, but judging by the Coolabar bladder that he put between his feet as we talked, the day's drinking was far from over.

But we had a good conversation about what he's done and what's important to him. Peter was helpful about other old buildings around Wilcannia so I asked him about the old paddle steamer wharf; whether it could still be seen.

My friend, Peter, told me she start and end of the sad story, with a gap in the middle of the sentance that I was able to fill in for myself. "A couple of the lads got hold of a lighter.............and it fell over."

I have a few Sturt's Desert Pea images ready to publish so will make a new post.