This sound walk is a rare opportunity to visit and learn about the Macquarie Marshes wetland and floodplain, in central North-West NSW, which has been the site of a three-year international project centred on the wetlands by artists Kim V. Goldsmith (AU) and Andrew Howe (UK), titled MOSSES AND MARSHES. Through this project, the Marshes have been explored and studied alongside the raised peat bogs of Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses (UK) - all these wetlands are recognised as being internationally important under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The artists have produced a body of artworks for exhibitions in the UK and Australia over 2021 and 2022, along with public programming. The second Australian exhibition will be at the Outback Arts gallery at the time of this event.

Kim V. Goldsmith is an environmental artist based in the Central West of NSW, who grew up on a large working farm 100km east of the Macquarie Marshes. It's a landscape she has visited many times over decades in different capacities. As part of her work on MOSSES AND MARSHES she's studied the landscape, the history, and the connections people have with the wetland and its surrounding floodplain. She's made multiple visits to the site since early 2020 to collect sounds and video of some of the hidden elements of the Marshes, using a range of sound recording and video equipment — from hydrophones and acoustic monitoring recorders, to drones, underwater and field trap cameras.

20/21 MAY 2022: MACQUARIE MARSHES SOUND WALK

2pm, Friday, 20 May: a guided tour and talk will be given of the MOSSES AND MARSHES exhibition at the Outback Arts Creative Arts Centre in Coonamble. After an overnight stay in Coonamble, sound walk participants will drive in convoy to the Marshes via Carinda to see the northern end of the Wambuul/Macquarie River.

10am-2pm, Saturday 21 May: A guided sound walk of the Marshes on the private property, Burrima*, facilitated by Kim V. Goldsmith, using some of her specialist audio recording equipment. She'll talk about 'ear cleaning' to listen more closely to the environment, and how she works as an artist in these types of landscapes. Locals who know the Marshes well will be available on the day to talk more about the wetland and its history. A picnic lunch will be provided.

*Burrima is a 257ha private property on the western edge of the Northern Nature Reserve, managed by the Macquarie Wetlands Association with the aim of restoring and conserving wetland and floodplain habitat. It's made accessible to the public via registration. A 2km concrete boardwalk meanders through River Red Gum forest, mixed marsh and dense reeds, providing an immersive experience of the wetland. An observation tower on the eastern edge of the property allows you to gaze across the Northern Marsh reed beds, part of the largest reed bed in southern Australia.

2pm-5pm, Saturday 21 May: The tour will return to Warren after Burrima via a stop at one of the famous birdwatching sites on the Monkeygar Creek crossing of Gibson's Way. The day ends at the Window on the Wetlands Centre in Warren (the Tiger Bay Wetlands are next door).

COST:

$110pp (GST incl.) for Friday and Saturday - includes exhibition tour/talk, entry to Burrima, guided sound walk and picnic lunch

$88pp (GST incl) for Saturday only - includes entry to Burrima, guided sound walk and picnic lunch. Saturday participants will need to meet at the Burrima gate at 10am sharp to gain entry.

SEE FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SOUND WALK (click to read)

For more information about the project

This event has been subsidised by a grant from the NSW Government through Create NSW, and supported by Outback Arts, Macquarie Wetlands Association (Burrima Boardwalk), and RiverSmart (Window on the Wetlands Centre).

Macquarie Marshes Sound Walk

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