New Murray Cod Sculpture Unveiled at Lake Tuggeranong
A community-crafted steel installation celebrates local ecology during the 2026 Craft + Design Festival.
1Community Art Installation
A four-metre-long sculpture named Mandji, representing a Murray cod, will be unveiled at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre on November 7, 2026. Brindabella Labor MLA Taimus Werner-Gibbings will officiate the launch. This temporary installation serves as a highlight for the upcoming 2026 Craft + Design Festival held in the Canberra region.
2Collaborative Creative Process
The project involved over 60 local artists, welders, and weavers working together since July 2026. Steven Holland designed the steel armature, which was fabricated by Mag Welding Services. Weavers utilized diverse materials, including fishing line, baling twine, and natural river reeds, to create the intricate, colourful circles covering the fish.
3Storytelling Through Weaving
Visual art program manager Ann McMahon noted that each week, special guests joined the weaving circle to share stories. These sessions helped shape the final aesthetic, with hundreds of textured pieces sewn onto the steel frame. The resulting pattern reflects the speckled skin of a cod and the diversity of makers.
4Environmental Awareness Focus
The installation promotes ecological health alongside artistic expression. OzFish senior project officer Harry Davey will host a carp-catch event near the arts centre during the launch. Additionally, a new fishing tackle bin will be installed to help prevent discarded fishing line and gear from polluting the waters of Lake Tuggeranong.
5Post-Festival Display Plans
Following the conclusion of the 2026 Craft + Design Festival, the sculpture will be divided for permanent exhibition. One half will be housed inside the arts centre office, while the other half will be mounted on an exterior wall facing the lake, ensuring the artwork remains a visible local landmark.
6Record-Breaking Auction Result
In unrelated local news, a historic two-digit number plate, '35', sold for a record $203,628 at auction. The plate, originally issued in 1927 to Bernard Vant, remained in the same Canberra family for 99 years. The final price, including the buyer's premium, reached $214,318, surpassing the previous ACT record set in 2025.
7Weekend Community Events
Canberra residents have several local events to attend this weekend, including the 129th Queanbeyan Show at the Queanbeyan Showground. St Ninian's Grand Fete in Lyneham also takes place on November 7, featuring stalls with crafts, plants, and books. These events highlight the active community engagement occurring throughout the region this November.
8Regional Cultural Significance
These developments underscore the intersection of public art, local history, and community participation in Canberra. Whether through the collaborative creation of the Mandji sculpture or the preservation of historic artifacts like the '35' number plate, these activities reinforce regional identity and foster social connection among residents across the ACT area.
Original article: Canberra Times — New Murray Cod Sculpture Unveiled at Lake Tuggeranong