Final Construction of Gateway Commission begins

Published on 27 May 2024

pataway/Burnie Gateway Commission

Construction on the final stages of the pataway/ Burnie Gateway Commission is set to begin today, 27 May 2024. The Gateway project is an initiative of the Tasmanian Government, delivering welcoming entry points to our major cities in the interest of enticing locals and visitors in.

Burnie City Council will be the first of the recipients to deliver a Gateway, working with artists to develop a unique and bold gesture.

Burnie City Council sought expressions of interest from Tasmanian artists with three design teams selected to progress to the next stage.

These teams held workshops with the local community to find out what people loved most about pataway/Burnie to incorporate into their designs.

Welcome Gesture by Tasmanian artists, Geoff Farquhar-Still and David Hamilton was selected after community consultation in 2023. 282 responses were received with over half voting for Welcome Gesture. The Burnie CBD Reference Group, made up of community representatives appointed by Council, recommended Welcome Gesture as the preferred design, which was then endorsed by Council.

Responses received from the community express enthusiasm for the gateway, “I like how bright and vibrant it is and I love the welcoming hand that it represents. It's warm and a great statement piece”. Comments highlighted how the gateway celebrates pataway/Burnie’s creative heart and announces arrival to the city, “impressive both day and night, the Welcome Gesture draws the attention to art on arrival and thus suits our City of Makers”.

The pataway/Burnie Gateway Commission presents a significant public art opportunity for the city and state with Burnie City Council showing leadership and vision by recognising the valuable contribution that artists and creatives make to place-making.

Local businesses, The Engineering Company, AJ&M Construction and CSE Tasmania are working with Hamilton and Farquhar-Still to build and install the gateway. Landscape design has been provided by  J Formed Landscape Design with advice on Indigenous planting from Pakana Ranger and Land Manager, Brendan Lowery of One Tree at a Time.

More information about the gateway and the broader Burnie City Centre Urban Plan can be found on this project page Burnie-Gateway-Project.

This project was funded by a grant from the Tasmanian Government.