McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park is a major public art gallery in Frankston and a fantastic family-friendly destination, especially on a sunny day.
The gallery building is set amongst 16 hectares of bushland and landscaped gardens and the sculpture park features a permanent collection of over 100 large-scale sculptures, mostly by Australian artists.
There are intriguing and curious artworks everywhere you turn and they will be sure to inspire great conversations with children about what they are seeing or imagining as they look around.
If you cover the whole park relatively quickly (ie chasing a toddler) then it’ll take about 1 hour. While you can negotiate the paths by pram because there’s plenty of space, the paths are mostly in the bush or dirt tracks at most, so it will be bumpy with some uphill climbing. And while it’s soooo tempting for kids to touch and climb the sculptures, it’s not allowed.
If you want a more in-depth experience then every Wednesday and Thursday there are free guided tours (bookings essential).
During our visit, our highlights included…
Tarax Play Sculpture (1969) by Peter Corlett
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Louise Paramor’s ready-made style Top shelf 2010
Ken Unsworth’s Annulus 2007 (Renamed ‘Rocks and string’ by Baby 2.0)
The mirrored sides and mysterious interiors of Ken Reihard’s Marland House sculpture 1970-72
Yvonne Kendall’s Sheep miracle 2005 with its over-sized Italian/Sicilian marzipan sheep moulds used only at Easter time.
Baby 2.o’s interpretation of Peter Schipperheyn’s Torso femminile (1995-2000)
The McClelland Labyrinth by Andre Rogers (2010) an artistic way to keep a child amused running in circles.
This really made an impression on Baby 2.0, who told everyone that he saw a ‘squashed bike with a traffic light. That’s a funny sculpture!’
After your visit rest your legs with a BYO picnic in the grounds or try Harry’s Cafe, which offers breakfast and lunch while overlooking the sculpture gardens’ lake.
On top of this, during the school holidays, the gallery offers a range of fun activities and workshops for pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary students. At these programs, kids will enjoy discovering sculptural pieces, the wilderness, current exhibitions, plus exciting hands-on workshops and activities! To find what’s currently on offer, be sure to read through McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park’s learning page.
McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park is a lovely way to spend a day and is worth the drive if you’re not local. There’s lots of art to explore, room to roam and a great cafe for the end of the journey.
HOT Tips:
- 40 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD along the Eastlink and Peninsula Link Freeways.
- free parking on site;
- closest train station is Frankston, with a 10 minute taxi or bus connection;
- kids programs happen every school holidays;
- take all your rubbish with you; there are no bins on the grounds;
- Harry’s Cafe has pram access, high chairs, children’s menu, disabled toilets.
