A unique tourist attraction for Far North Queensland
The Cassowary Art Trail hosts a set of beautiful hand-painted cassowary sculptures in towns across Far North Queensland. Local artists have painted the sculptures to express their connection to the cassowary through their artwork.
Visiting the art trail incentivises locals and tourists to explore the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and learn about animals vital to the rainforest, like the cassowary.
Natureworks was proud to provide cassowary statues for each artist to bring to life through visual storytelling. The statues are based on our museum-quality life-sized cassowary replicas, which we supplied as sculptures ready to paint.
Watch the video to hear some of the artists' stories...
Raising awareness of the endangered Southern Cassowary
The arts trail project aims to promote awareness of the endangered Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) and educate people about its important role in the rainforest ecosystem. This flightless bird – ‘the gardener of the rainforest’ – spreads large fruit seeds in the forests, ensuring ecological diversity.
The project also aims to celebrate local artists and indigenous culture, attract tourists to the region and provide an enjoyable cultural experience.
"If the cassowary is to survive, effective action is required now. This action must be rooted in community support, which relies on education about habitat loss and the needs of the cassowary. ”
A community-led project
The Cassowary Art Trail is a not-for-profit project initiated by Jurg Jutzi in partnership with Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery. This volunteer organisation is responsible for conservation projects in the Far North Queensland region, with a focus on the iconic Southern cassowary.
The project was funded with the help of a Regional Arts Development Fund” (RADF) grant approved by Mareeba Shire Council in 2022.
"The rainforest in Kuranda is a vital habitat for the endangered southern cassowary. The Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery and the Cassowary Art Trail team have partnered with local artists to deliver life-sized cassowary statues in the village to raise public awareness of this iconic species."
The artists behind the Cassowary Art Trail sculptures
Each cassowary sculpture was hand-painted by an individual local artist.
- Bundarra, painted by Connie Rovina – at Kuranda Heritage Market, Birdworld and Kuranda Koala Gardens
- The Guardian, painted by Jedess & father David Hudson – at Rainforestation Nature Park, Kuranda
- Ma-Jilli, painted by George Riley – at Terra Nova Gallery, Kuranda
- Kuraptor, painted by Rebecca Koller – at Kuranda Village Centre
- Bimbi Djaruy (Father bird), painted by Corrin Skeene – at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, Wangetti
- Beautiful Beatrice, painted by Melanie Hava – at Mamu Tropical Skywalk, Palmerston
- Arrow, painted by Hayley Gillespie – at Wildlife Habitat, Port Douglas
Photo gallery – artists with their painted cassowaries
Exploring the Cassowary Art Trail
Currently, there are four painted cassowary sculptures in Kuranda and one each in Port Douglas, Wangetti and Palmerston. Interested in exploring the trail? Download the map here.
What's next? A giant cassowary!
There will also be a 4-metre-high Big Cassowary sculpture in Kuranda – a Big Thing that aims to become an iconic visitor attraction connecting with the cassowary trail.
Planned for 2026 and currently in the fundraising phase, the cassowary will be made by Natureworks. Once it is ready, a group of artists will paint a story on the big cassowary depicting Kuranda’s history, environment, culture and wildlife. There are also opportunities for local businesses to sponsor the project and benefit from the promotion.
Cassowary sculptures by Natureworks
Project details
| Client | Jurg Jutzi and Kuranda Conservation Community Nursery |
| Project | Cassowary sculptures for art trail |
| Audience | Art lovers, environmentalists, educators, tourists and local community members |
| Location | Multiple locations in northern Queensland – Kuranda, Cairns, Palmerston, Wangetti |
| Date | 2022 – 2024 |
| Related products | Cassowary set, Female cassowary, Male cassowary, Cassowary chicks |
| Related catalogues | Birds, Big Things |
| Similar projects | School Rainbow Serpent, Power of Public Art, Cloud Reef sculpture, Heart sculptures |
The power of art for education, conservation and community cohesion
This project shows the value of motivated individuals, regional councils, environmental organisations and artists working together for a mutual objective.
Natureworks loves supporting projects that promote conservation, culture, education and community resilience. If you would like to initiate such a project for your community, please contact Natureworks. We can throw in some ideas, provide creative concepts to support funding applications, and discuss how to move your project forward.
