Castaways is our annual outdoor sculptural exhibition showcasing artworks created from repurposed materials at the Rockingham Foreshore.
Castaways started in 2008 as a community arts project to raise awareness around the discarded items or ‘castaways’ washing up on local beaches and has continued to expand and evolve.
Today, Castaways provides an important opportunity for emerging and professional Western Australian artists, schools and local businesses to be a part of a regionally-recognised arts program that continues to promote sustainable values.
Castaways consists of three unique exhibitions.
The Main Exhibition showcases outdoor sculptures set against the backdrop of the Rockingham Foreshore.
Western Australian artists are invited to enter their sculpture for selection.
Sculptures must use recycled and repurposed materials, and must include a 30% visible aluminium component to be eligible for the Major Award.
Coster Mkoki, A Labour of Love 2, aluminium, found objects, cast aluminium. Castaways 2023.
The Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition celebrates the intricacy of small-scale three-dimensional artworks.
Emerging and professional artists are invited to create indoor sculptures using recycled and repurposed materials.
Held at the Rockingham Arts Centre, just a short stroll from Rockingham Foreshore
Installation view of Castaways Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition 2025.
Primary and secondary schools are invited to create sculptures from recycled or repurposed materials for public exhibition alongside emerging and professional artists. Teachers report benefits including student collaboration, community connection, and the pursuit of knowledge and new skills.
Castaways also demonstrates how important messages can be shared through creative channels, inspiring future community leaders. The Castaways Schools Exhibition is displayed alongside the Main Exhibition at Churchill Park on the Rockingham Foreshore.
Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre, Shell Shocking News, wire baskets, metal utensils, scrap wood, plastic kitchen items, bike tubes. Castaways 2025.
The 2026 Castaways Curator, Lyn Di Ciero, is a visual arts writer, curator and filmmaker who established the Artist’s Chronicle in 1991, the longest-running independent visual arts magazine in Western Australia’s history. Di Ciero is also a former Visual Arts Feature Writer for The West Australian newspaper (2010-2016). She was the Australian manager for the School of Colour in the 1990s, which included operating distance education across Australia, and has documented several art collections, including the City of Belmont, the City of Rockingham Town of Mosman Park and Perth Airport.
She has curated the City of Rockingham Castaways Sculpture Awards since its inception, and the annual Soroptimist International of Fremantle Help the Homeless Act Auction, which raises funds for critical services for the homeless and at-risk homeless in the community. From 2020 to 2022, she was the curator of the Mandorla Art Award, Australia’s most significant thematic Christian art prize.
Since 2013, she has explored filmmaking as another form of storytelling in the visual arts, with her filmography including commissions from the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the City of Rockingham and St John of God Health Care.
Thank you to our sponsor Fremantle Ports for your valued partnership and support of the arts and community.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for the Castaways Sculpture Awards, please contact the City's Community Development Officer (Art Events and Programs) at customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au.
The 2025 Castaways Sculpture Awards took place from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November 2025.
| Award | 2025 Winner |
|---|---|
| $10,000 Major Award | Kim Perrier, De-Vine |
| $5,000 Innovation Award | Damien Gavillet, Orbital |
| $5,000 Sustainability Award | Richard Aitken, No Junk Mail |
| $2,500 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award | Janice O'Meara, Frag-mented |
| $2,000 City of Rockingham Local Resident Award | Ben Veljacich, The little penguin |
| $500 Primary School Award | Settlers Primary School, Prickly's Playground |
| $500 Secondary School Award | SMYL Community College - Tesla Campus, Bottled Up: When I Couldn't Speak, You Stayed |
| $1,000 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Main Exhibition | Joy Francis, Big Dog |
| $500 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition | Courtney Smith, Reflections of the Sea |
| $250 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Schools Exhibition | Safety Bay Primary School, The 114 |
| Highly Commended | Sherri Brown, Beacon Safety Bay Primary School, The 114 Sheoak Grove Primary School, A World All Spun Out |
With thanks to our 2025 sponsor, Fremantle Ports.
The 2024 Castaways Sculpture Awards took place from Saturday 26 October to Sunday 3 November 2024.
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| $10,000 Alcoa Major Award | Joan Johnson, Deconstructed, Reconstructed and Embellished |
| $5,000 Innovation Award | Kelly Robbins, Pin Cushion Protea |
| $5,000 Capral Aluminium Sustainability Award | Damien Gavillet, Crushed |
| $2,500 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award | Valerie Schönjahn, Travellers |
| $2,000 City of Rockingham Local Resident Award | Gary Aitken, Those Who Have Passed |
| $500 Alcoa Primary School Award | Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre, I’m a peliCAN, not a trash CAN |
| $500 Secondary School Award | Rockingham Montessori School Adolescent Program, Outer Harbour |
| $1,000 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Main Exhibition | Paul Fontanini, Recycling Metamorphosis Kim Perrier, Aqueous |
| $500 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition | Emily Smith, Contamination |
| $250 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Schools Exhibition | Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre, I’m a peliCAN, not a trash CAN |
| Highly Commended | Ed Stafford, The Overflow Sky Edwards, Contemporary Archaeology 1 Endeavour Schools, Scavenger Seals Settlers Primary School, Where to From Here? |
With thanks to our 2024 sponsors, Alcoaopens in a new window, Capral Aluminiumopens in a new window and Fremantle Portsopens in a new window.
Header image: Install view of Castaways Sculpture Awards 2023.
