Your Private Guided Tour of The Wall Tasmania
Fun Tassie Tours visit and include a personalised guided tour of the amazing Wall in the Wilderness as part of our 5-day west coast Tasmanian tour, as well as our full 8-day Tasmania tour in circle.
From the moment we arrive at the entrance of this gallery, you realise you are in for something special. It’s a wondrous experience, from the impressive building nestled in the native snow gum forest to the cast iron eagle sentinel adjacent to the door (this was cast from the original wood carving by the artist).
A Snapshop of The Wall Tasmania
Who made The Wall? – Tasmanian artist Greg Duncan
Where can I see The Wall? – Derwent Bridge (north-west from Hobart)
When did The Wall begin? – 2005
How long is The Wall? – 100m long
The Wall in the Wilderness By Greg Duncan
A remarkable work, by Greg Duncan, The Wall in the Wilderness illustrates the history of the Tasmanian Highlands in huge 3-metre-high huon pine panels. The Wall in the Wilderness has been a decades-long project and is currently housed in a magnificent purpose-built gallery in Derwent Bridge.
At first, you may think The Wall is out of place in Tasmania’s tiny central highland town of Derwent Bridge, but as Greg explains:
“I just want to bring the history of the area into the light. There were mistakes and successes in our past. If I am trying to say anything it is that we must learn from the past, both good and bad, in order to move into a better future. I want the Wall Tasmania to be an educational as well as an artist experience.”
The Wall in the Wilderness Panels
As most of Tasmania’s power is generated by hydro (which has been in use since the late 1890s), it seems fitting that Greg has devoted space on The Wall in the Wilderness to the Hydro Electric Scheme – a marvel of engineering and foresight, producing the cleanest power available. The first panel of The Wall Tasmania depicts the visionary who first imagined the scheme, followed by the surveyor, the mapper, the pegger, the labourers, and finally, the water pipe. The hydro story is carved in awe-inspiring detail at the beginning of The Wall.
The forestry industry is also brought to life on The Wall in a fantastic life-size carving featuring three draft horses and forestry workers pulling a log from the forest. You only have to see the anatomical detail in the men’s arms and hands to realise this is the work of genius. The Wall in the Wilderness is simply spectacular!
Greg goes on to illustrate how man has impacted Tasmania’s wildlife with a section of The Wall devoted to the extinction of the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). A series of panels show the hunt, and one depicts an extract from the archive of the earlier government’s tiger bounty register, giving the number and bounty paid to one early highland family (a total of 77 tigers). There are also tribute panels along The Wall to other extinct and endangered Tasmanian species.
One of the most moving exhibits on The Wall Tasmania has to be the story dedicated to the early pioneers. The scene with the woman and young son placing a flower on the grave of her husband has brought a tear to many an eye. He has not only captured the grief and sorrow in her face but also the strength and determination to carry on. The family’s belongings are all packed in the cart, harnessed to the horse, with the milk cow tied behind. The detail in her face and hands alone is exceptional. The Wall in the Wilderness is entirely the work of one man who has devoted nearly a decade to creating (and self-funding) this national treasure in the making.
The Evolution of The Wall Tasmania
I have been fortunate enough to have watched The Wall in the Wilderness evolve from the start in 2005 and have even had the pleasure of assisting the gallery as a guide. With this background and past experience, I look forward to personally showing you around and explaining this remarkable work of art. It is no wonder the name Michelangelo is often mentioned after visiting this incredible gallery.
For more information, get in touch with Fun Tassie Tours or visit The Wall Tasmania’s website.