New plans revealed for Sydney Harbour art trail pioneered by late philanthropist Neil Balnaves

A project spearheaded by the man who helped bring Sculpture by the Sea to Sydney is set to see public artworks permanently installed on harbour walk tracks – in a move which could attract thousands of visitors a year.

The works will showcase locations including Balmoral Beach.

Beachside walking tracks at Mosman are set to be transformed into an open air art gallery as part of a project showcasing some of Australia’s leading artists.

Mosman Council has approved plans for a new public art signage trail which will display famous Australian artworks on eleven new foreshore signs.

Each sign will feature an image of the artwork related to its location – reflecting the beauty of the lower north shore and Sydney Harbour.

The signs include interpretative text and QR codes, enabling visitors to view and access information about the artwork.

The $30,000 project was spearheaded by the late Australian philanthropist Neil Balnaves AO who in 2011 made a major donation of Australian impressionist and modernist artworks to the Mosman Art Collection.

A photo of two of the artworks expected to be displayed in the art walk.

This significant collection includes many works depicting the lower north shore including pieces by Australian artists Arthur Streeton, Conrad Marten, Henry Fullwood, Elioth Gruner, Sydney Long, Margaret Preston and Ethel Carrick Fox.

Before his passing in early 2022, Mr Balnaves had been in discussions with Mosman Art Gallery staff about opportunities to link the collection to their respective locations across Mosman’s foreshores.

Neil Balnaves, pictured at home in Mosman in 2016.

The artworks will showcase Mosman’s foreshore.

Mosman Council’s manager of cultural services and director of Mosman Art Gallery John Cheeseman told a council meeting the project would help raise awareness of the region’s cultural heritage.

“We’ve been very keen to continue with Neil’s idea and we’ve co-ordinated with the Balnaves Foundation and his family to look at the idea Neil had,” he said.

“During Covid he’d been confined to his home and had been walking the streets of Mosman (and) he thought it would be great to go this next step and not only have the works available in the gallery but also provide images of them in the spaces they were actually painted by these very famous Australian artists

“The public will be able to get a greater sense of the environment, its heritage and the artistic importance of the area itself.”

Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said the project could also encourage more visits to appreciate Mosman’s foreshore tracks.

“The one thing we have Covid to thank for is that during the pandemic people did get out and walk and start to appreciate the beauty of Mosman,” she said. “I think this will be a wonderful addition.”

The signs will be installed at locations including Balmoral Beach, Mosman Bay, Georges Heights, Taylors Bay, The Spit and Chowders Bay

The council is estimating the project could bring the number of people who walk the foreshore tracks to 50,000 per year.

Mr Balnaves was one of Australia’s leading media executives and arts philanthropists with his production companies responsible for bringing Big Brother and Bananas in Pyjamas to Australian television screens.

In 2006, he founded The Balnaves Foundation which by the time of his death had bequeathed $20m to charitable organisations and also helped to fund Sculpture by the Sea at Sydney.