Client:  Conargo Shire Council (now Edward River Council)
Collaboration:  Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre and local community members. Custom fabrication by Michel Signs
Status:   Construction completed in 2017

A tribute to the unsung heroes of the wool industry
Pottinger Park was Conargo Shire Council’s last project and Edward River Council’s first park. It is a tribute to the late Manny Pottinger, Conargo’s resident windmill repairman. The project was one of the projects outlined in the Village Masterplan we completed for the Shire in 2009.
The park concept design was developed collaboratively with Council staff, Councillors and community members. Central to the design is a windmill that pays tribute to one of the village’s favourite residents. Pottinger Park is dedicated to the unsung heroes of the wool industry Manny represented. For over half a century, he climbed the rungs of almost every windmill in the district to ensure a reliable supply of water for stock. A boulevard of Jacaranda trees was chosen by community members to reference the trees Joyce and Manny planted in their garden, next door to the park..

A story of legends
​The first interpretive signage panel in Pottinger Park acknowledges Connection to Country. We felt truly honoured to learn more about the Connection to Country from members of the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre. Every element of this sign was developed in collaboration with them.
Four other panels tell the story of Conargo’s central role in Australian wool industry history. Filled with legends, tragedy and triumph, we loved working with local community members to collate, curate and present some of the best stories.
The custom seats were specifically designed for the site. Referencing a water tank, the 3D form we spent so many hours designing was cast in Melbourne by specialist concreters. We designed the tiled mosaic pattern and specified every single colour. The design was then sent to Italy and the individual tiles were placed on paper sheets by Bisazza. The steel and timber work components were customs built in Shepparton by Michel Signs who also carefully installed the seats on-site.
The site coordination and landscape works were all completed by members of the Council Works Team – some of them had been in our first Conargo community meeting in 2008.

Supporting local businesses
​Pottinger Park is a tribute to Manny. It also complements the various projects in each of the villages we’ve been working on for several years now. It will benefit visitors by giving them a pleasant environment and introducing them to some of the village's histories. These projects have all been designed to support small businesses, like the Conargo Store, and the communities of each village.’ Barry Barlow (General Manager, Conargo Shire Council)

This project was completed by LMLA prior to the merger with Thomson Hay Landscape Architects

Photography: Shayne Hill