Council is proud to unveil plans for a significant new public artwork at the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens in Sunshine, to be created by the acclaimed contemporary art collective, Monash Art Projects.
Titled The Birds (Sunshine), the project will see the installation of six sculptural birdbaths created from honed granite, bluestone, and bronze.
Drawing inspiration from the industrial heritage of the Sunshine Harvester Works and the surrounding basalt plains, the sculptures will provide a functional and artistic habitat for local birdlife, while offering the community new ways to engage with the H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens’ unique natural and cultural history.
Monash Art Projects (MAP) is a collaborative studio recognised for innovative, research-driven approaches to public art that bring together architecture, ecology, sculpture, and storytelling. Collaborating on the development of this work are prominent artists Callum Morton (MAP Director), Jen Berean (MAP Associate Director) and Linda Tegg.
The sculptural forms in The Birds (Sunshine) are adapted from the Sunshine Harvester Company’s original parts catalogue, reassembled as modernist compositions reminiscent of Cubist collages. The work offers a poetic response to the machine age, reimagining industrial forms as vessels for care, regeneration, and connection with nature.
The new public artwork is scheduled for installation in mid-2026 and is supported through Brimbank Council’s Public Art Program.
Brimbank Mayor, Cr Thuy Dang, said Council is pleased to be adding to the public art in Brimbank with a meaningful sculptural piece named The Birds that will be installed in Sunshine next year for everyone to enjoy.
“The Birds will connect deeply with the legacy of H.V. McKay and the site’s industrial past while looking forward – creating something that is both reflective and functional for our community and its environment.
“Public art brings people together, sparks conversation, and helps us see the world differently – and in Brimbank, we are proud to support work that strengthens our community in such powerful and lasting ways,” said the Mayor.
Additional information:
The Birds (Sunshine) extends Monash Art Projects recent project The Birds (MUMA), commissioned by Monash University Museum of Art (2024–2025), which featured carved boulders shaped to collect water for birds on campus. That work explored Victoria’s geological diversity while foregrounding the needs of non-human species in urban design. The Sunshine project will build on these learnings with new research into local avian life and site-responsive design.
About the Artists
- Callum Morton is one of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists. Known for large-scale public sculptures and interventions, his work bridges architecture and narrative. His artworks are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, MONA, and the MCA.
- Linda Tegg is an artist whose immersive installations explore multispecies relationships and ecological restoration. She represented Australia at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.
- Jen Berean is a designer and artist working across disciplines to examine systems, urban life, and material histories. Her collaborative work often explores spatial practice and environmental care.
