In an tale of community spirit and artistic endeavour, Jindabyne has become the latest Australian town to install “a BIG thing,” joining the ranks of attractions like the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple. This time, the spotlight is on the Big Chairlift, a large-scale sculpture that has captured the heart of the Jindabyne community, with the story of its creation as captivating as the art itself.
PHOTO: Darragh Walsh’s vision becomes a reality CREDITS: Darragh Walsh
Darragh Walsh, a talented artist based in Dalgety, in the Snowy Mountains, is the creative mind behind this remarkable sculpture. Walsh, originally from Victoria, moved to Jindabyne 17 years ago and has since been a part of the local arts scene. Specialising in sculptures, Walsh creates his works from scratch, often beginning as chalk drawings on a concrete floor. He doesn’t use modern techniques like computer numerical control routers, instead relying on his innate artistic vision—a talent he shares with his father, an accomplished artist and industrial designer.
The Big Chairlift is a nostalgic nod to the old double chairlifts found in Thredbo and Perisher, alongside inspiration Walsh had during his travels overseas. After photographing an iconic chair at a resort in Europe, Walsh began crafting miniature sculptural versions before finally realising his dream of creating a giant chairlift sculpture. The shift from idea to reality came about with the return of the Lake Light Sculpture Jindabyne event, prompting Walsh to make it happen, as he had been waiting for the right moment for some time.
“There’s Adaminaby and they have the Big Trout. Other places have big things too, and I thought it would be perfect for our community to have the Big Chairlift,” said Walsh.
To bring the sculpture to life, Darragh collaborated with a friend to obtain accurate measurements of classic double chairlifts, which he then scaled up by 400%.
“There’s a fine line between making something big, or making something that looks cartoon big. Imagining it in Jindabyne and how the landscape might impact it was quite an interesting aspect of design as well.”
Practicality played a significant role, as the chair was designed to be low enough for easy access, inviting visitors to interact with it and capture memorable family photographs.
“I wanted to keep it under a certain height off the ground, so it was made bar stool height, so you can kind of lean back and sit on it or climb up, but it doesn’t require all the safety requirements, if it was set up high. I wanted people to pile up on it and get big family photos and sit across it, that sort of thing, because of the novelty aspect of it,” Walsh expressed.
PHOTO: From a workshop in Dalgety the sculpture made it’s way by truck.
The community’s excitement was matched by a collective effort to secure the sculpture’s home within Jindabyne. Olivier Kapetanakos, President of the Jindabyne Chamber of Commerce, spearheaded a GoFundMe campaign to purchase the Big Chairlift, raising over $25,000. “We reacted to the community, and saw what an opportunity could be made of having a BIG thing in Jindabyne,” he said, highlighting the town’s eager embrace of this unique landmark.
A spokesperson from Lake Light Sculpture Jindabyne praised the project, stating, “Thanks to an incredible community effort, over $25,000 has been raised to purchase the sculpture and keep it right here in town.”
Discussions are underway about its permanent location, with Banjo Paterson Park being a favoured option, offering a picturesque backdrop of the lake and providing a warm welcome to visitors entering Jindabyne.
The Big Chairlift not only stands as a testament to local heritage and artistic creativity but also fits the landscape. As Jindabyne celebrates this new addition, the Big Chairlift promises to be a cherished symbol of the town’s vibrant snow identity.
It’s a beauty Darragh….you’re very very talented. You should be really proud of yourself.
Colleen Richmond 😁