Anna McCauley, former Alice Springs resident, competes in third Australian Sand Sculpting Championships 2025
A former Alice Springs resident and avid sand sculptor is competing for first place in the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships alongside her father. Find out what they’ve created.
It would be fair to say Anna McCauley’s idea of playing in the sand is different to most people’s.
To Anna, sand sculpting, which was introduced to her by her father, Jim, at a young age, was basically ingrained in her — and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When I was young, my Dad started organising sand sculpting events down at Rye Beach, Victoria, which gave me early access into this world of professional, competitive sculpting,” she said.
“It really planted a seed of inspiration to be able to carve sand in this very special way that I was seeing from these masters, who were coming from around the world as the event grew.”
Anna, who moved to Melbourne in 2023 after living in Alice Springs for eight years, has since worked events at the Frankston Waterfront, appeared on the 2022 Canadian TV show Race Against the Tide, and has studied Fine Art at Frankston Chisholm, RMIT, and Valencia Polytechnic University, Spain.
The artist was also responsible for the large red-tailed black cockatoo sand sculpture in the Todd Mall in 2016.
Anna is now competing in her third Australian Sand Sculpting Championships alongside her father, wherein they have created a Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sculpture.
She said it was “nice” to compete on the same team as her father.
“We’re very supportive of each other and nice to each other,” she said.
“We also know how to work well with one another.”
While not expecting to win, Anna hoped one day she could.
“At this point, I’m not feeling super confident for a win,” she said.
“The people that we’re competing against are really quite skilled, experienced and it’s a bit intimidating looking at the sculptures.”
Anna will also compete in the event’s singles competition with her sculpture of Ursula from the Little Mermaid as part of the theme of “The Villains of Storytime”.
The family-friendly Australian Sand Sculpting Championships 2025 will take place at Frankston Foreshore from April 5-27.
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Originally published as Anna McCauley, former Alice Springs resident, competes in third Australian Sand Sculpting Championships 2025
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