Two people look at an aluminium jelly fish sculpture and an abstract wire sculpture on the beach at sunset

Castaways Sculpture Awards 2025

Saturday 25 October - Sunday 2 November 2025

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Rockingham Foreshore, this outdoor exhibition invites visitors to explore large-scale sculptures crafted from recycled and repurposed materials. Castaways blends creativity with sustainability, offering a unique experience for art lovers, families, and curious minds alike.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit.

How to get there

Rockingham Foreshore map with Castaways exhibition locations <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span> <span class="sr-only">opens in a new window</span>Castaways is set against the backdrop of the pristine Rockingham Foreshore, with three exhibitions held at the following locations:

The Information Tent in Churchill Park was open daily from 9am – 5pm throughout the exhibition.

Public Parking at the Rockingham Foreshore

There is a variety of timed parking bays available at the Rockingham Foreshore, ranging from between 5 minutes to 2 hours, and over 650 untimed bays. All parking is free.

Foreshore Parking Mapopens in a new windowopens in a new window

Public Transport

It’s a quick trip on Bus Route 555opens in a new windowopens in a new window from the Rockingham Train Station to the foreshore.

Transperth JourneyPlanneropens in a new windowopens in a new window

Active Transport

Together with the Department of Transport, the City developed two Your Move maps to make active transport easier to access in the City of Rockingham. One side of the map focuses on public transport and the other side of the guide is for walking and cycling. ​Please note that bus and cycle routes may have changed since the initial publication of the maps.

Catalogue

Find everything you need to know about Castaways in one place!

View the catalogue

People's Choice Award

A sculpture of a pelican flying with a fish in its mouth made of recycled materials and installed at the beach

The Fremantle Ports People's Choice Awards gives the public the opportunity to vote for their favourite Castaways sculptures. The artwork in each exhibition that receives the most votes will be presented with the Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Award.

Voting is now closed.

View winning artworks

Voter's Prize

By voting, visitors can also enter the draw to win the $500 Fremantle Ports Voter’s Prize, just tick the box on the People’s Choice voting form to opt in.


Winner of the 2024 Castaways Sculpture Awards $500 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition: Emily Smith, Contamination, 2024, recycled glass, resin, bathroom tile, plastic bags

Art Sales

Art sales for Castaways 2025 are now closed.

Artist Talks

Castaways 2023 Artist Talk - Nicole SteenhofA selection of Main Exhibition artists will speak about their concepts and creative processes in successfully designing and developing a sculpture of exhibition standard.

Sunday 26 October 2025

  • 10am: Guest Artist Jina Lee
  • 11am: Richard Aitken
  • 11.30am: Erica Zaino
  • 12pm: Lilliana Stafford
  • 1pm: Gary Aitken

Saturday 1 November 2025

  • 10.30am: Marite Norris
  • 11am: Damien Gavillet

Sunday 2 November 2025

  • 11.30am: Kim Perrier
  • 1pm: Lesley Barrett
  • 2pm: Coster Mkoki

Nicole Steenhof, Unravelling Grief, 2023, cray rope, table frame, tent poles.

Tactile Tours

Bjoern Rainer-Adamson, Success?, 2023, recycled aluminium, steel, objects.People with disability, including those who are blind or vision impaired, along with their friends and family, are invited to attend a Tactile Tour of the Castaways Sculpture Awards where they can touch and interact with selected artworks. Tours are conducted by DADAAopens in a new windowopens in a new window.

Tours are free, however bookings are essential. For more information and to book, please contact Jacqueline Homer at DADAA via jacqueline@dadaa.org.au or 0400 111 018.

Monday 27 October 2025

  • 10.15am – 11.15am
  • 11.30am – 12.30pm

Thursday 30 October 2025

  • 10.15am – 11.15am
  • 11.30am – 12.30pm*

 *AUSLAN interpretation is available Thursday 30 October from 11.30am – 12.30pm.


Bjoern Rainer-Adamson, Success?, 2023, recycled aluminium, steel, objects.

Sustainability Pop Up
  • Dates: Saturday 26 October, Friday 31 October, Saturday 1 November and Sunday 2 November 2025
  • Time: 11am – 5pm
  • Location: Rockingham Foreshore, Rockingham Beach Road, Rockingham
  • Price: Free
  • Suitable for: all ages

On select days during Castaways, visit the City’s waste education pop-up to explore more about recycling, the three-bin system, FOGO and simple ways to reduce household waste.

Enjoy interactive games and take-home resources that make sustainability simple, practical, and fun for all ages.

Judges' Tour of Winners
  • Date: Saturday 25 October 2025 
  • Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm
  • Location: Starting at the Rockingham Arts Centre, 11 Kent Street, Rockingham

Be among the first to experience the winning works of this year’s exhibition on Opening Day, with a special guided tour led by the judges and curator themselves.

Starting at the Rockingham Arts Centre, the tour will begin immediately after the winners are revealed during the private awards presentation. For the first time ever, this exclusive insight into the selection process and artistic excellence is open to everyone.

Together, we’ll walk down to the foreshore, stopping to hear behind-the-scenes commentary and reflections on each of the winning pieces. Free, no bookings required. Please note that light walking will be involved throughout the event.


Installation view of Castaways Sculpture Awards 2024.

Professional Development Session - Starting Out as a Sculptor
  • Warren Langley, 'Place to Place', 2022, Curtin University. Image credit: Frances Andrijich, courtesy Apparatus.Date: Saturday 1 November 2025
  • Time: 1.30pm – 5pm
  • Location: Rockingham Arts Centre, 11 Kent Street, Rockingham
  • Price: $30 per person
  • Registrations close: Friday 31 October 2025. Limited to 20 participants.

Ever wondered how to break into the arts as a sculptor? Join Castaways curator Lyn Di Ciero, together with speakers with decades of art experience who talk on how to navigate the world of public art commissions. Registration required. Click here for more information and information on how to register.

About the Facilitators

Lyn Di Ciero has a wide experience in the visual arts over the past 40 years, from curator of Castaways since its inception in 2008, to publisher of the Artist’s Chronicle magazine since 1991, the longest-running independent visual arts magazine in Western Australia’s history and Artoble, the newly released free-to-download art finder App. She is a former visual arts feature writer for The West Australian, and a filmmaker with commissions including the Art Gallery of WA and St John of God Health Care where her documentaries feature on the first arts channel within a hospital in Western Australia.

Dr Audrey Fernandes-Satar PhD was born in India, has studied in Lisbon, Portugal and lived in Australia for the past 40 years.  She grew up within a microcosm of stories of freedom and activism – collective memories shared, or overhead, and then kept safe in an imaginary repository somewhere in her mind. Her practice spans poetic text, painting, sculpture, drawing and the moving image. She has completed numerous site-specific art projects in public spaces and exhibited in Australia and overseas, including at the 23rd Venice Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy in 2023. Audrey holds an MFA from the University of Lisbon, Portugal and a PhD from Murdoch University, Perth, where she has been a lecturer for the past 18 years.

Engineer Albert de Boer heads the construction and fabrication arm of the design team at Artforms, a collective of skilled and experienced artists, creators and engineers. He has been involved in many major construction projects and has a deep understanding of engineering principles. Albert’s extensive knowledge incorporates automation, fabrication, and structural, civil, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering. Together with artist, project manager and company founder, Carol Stevens, the Artforms team has a hands-on approach to fabrication, design, materials usage, graphics, drafting and structural certification.

Castaways Photo Competition

Person taking photo of Castaways sculpture at Rockingham ForeshoreSnap a photo of your favourite sculpture and post it publicly on Facebook or Instagram with #CastawaysPhotoComp2025 by 11.59pm Sunday 2 November for a chance to win. Please make sure your profile is set to public so we can view your entry.

You can win one of three Rockingham experiences: 

  • First Place $138 five course degustation for two at award-winning Rustico Tapas and Wine Bar
  • Two Runners-up - $50 Hey Caddy and X-Golf gift card. Valid at any Hey Caddy and X-Golf facility.

Entrants must be 18+ and WA resident to participate. View the full terms and conditions below.


Installation view of Castaways Sculpture Awards 2024

Accessibility

Tony Pankiw, ‘Spot the Sculpture’ 2023.; Catia Dolzadelli, ‘In Case of Emergency’, 2023.Each year, we are committed to ensuring Castaways is an event people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.For more information on beach access equipment, visit the City’s Accessible beaches page. 

  • One Sandcruiser beach wheelchair and two beach walkers​ are available in limited supply for free loan at the Information Tent in Churchill Park. Photo ID required.
  • Beach access matting will be in place for the duration of Castaways for wheelchair and pram access to most artworks exhibited on the beach.
  • A Changing Places facility, accessible bathrooms specifically designed for people with high support needs, is available at Churchill Park.
  • People with disability, along with their friends, and family, are invited to attend a free Tactile Tour of Castaways conducted by DADAA.

Sheryl Chant, Urchin of Myopia, 2024, shark net float, contact lens containers, galvanised steel

Education Activity Sheets

Fun activity sheets are available to download for an educational and interactive experience with the Castaways Sculpture Awards. Free printouts are also available at the Information Tent at the Rockingham Foreshore.

The Education Activity Sheets were suitable for the below age groups:

  • ages 3 - 7
  • ages 8 - 11
  • ages 12 - 15.

Budi Hanaf, The Bushketeers, 2025, baked clay bricks

Schools Excursions

The City offers four schools a reimbursement of up to $300 towards bus hire fees to visit the exhibition.

Successful schools are selected based on a first-in basis of completed applications.

All primary and secondary schools located within the City of Rockingham are eligible.

Read the Schools Excursion Information Sheet and complete the Bus Reimbursement Application Form and EFT Form below.


Installation view of Castaways Sculpture Awards 2024.


Header image: Install view of Castaways Sculpture Awards 2024.
1. Ben Veljacich, Moon Jelly, 2024, aluminium, steel.
2. Sally Stoneman, Echos IV, 2020, recycled rabbit-proof fence wire.

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