William Ricketts Sanctuary, Mount Dandenong, Victoria

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William Ricketts was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1898. He was a self-trained potter and sculptor who created a Sanctuary in Mount Dandenong where he settled permanently in 1934. His vision was of an Australia which would embrace aboriginal spirituality and respect for the natural world. He created the sculpture park in 1934 and worked on this project until his death in 1993. The sculptures are made of white ball clay and rocks were positioned especially to create the walk through the Sanctuary. He had a great affinity with the bush animals on his block and revered every stone and tree. His first house was relocated from Melbourne and was very primitive with an earthen floor as per his preference. The log cabin was later moved to its present position where it is used as an Audio Visual display room. He refused to have a large stone removed and the cabin has an alcove around the stone which now has ‘The Elder’ sitting on top. This is the photo I’ve used here. From 1949 to 1960 he made frequent visits to Central Australia, living with several aboriginal tribes and adopting the lyrebird as his totem. Willian lived in the cabin until 1962. Around this time the Government of Victoria bought the Sanctuary from Ricketts. In the 70s he spent two years in India. While William was living in India, the government built him a new brick residence which included a new kiln and gallery area. The new kiln enabled him to produce larger works. William wanted to inspire visitors to feel at one with the land alongside the birds, animals, forest, mountains, deserts, rocks and water. He hoped this would lead to a desire by people to protect rather than destroy the environment. It is certainly a very peaceful sanctuary, designed to refresh the spirit while wandering along the paths among the tall mountain ash trees and lush ferns. There are over 90 sculptures to view almost all of them of aboriginal people and the native animals.