Few things beat a gentle walk along the water on a spring morning, and for a few more days the Rockingham Foreshore has something extra to see. The Castaways Sculpture Awards is back, filling the beachfront with striking sculptures made from recycled and repurposed materials. The free exhibition runs until Sunday 1 November 2026, so this weekend is your last chance to see it.
Castaways started in 2008 as a community arts project. Its aim was to draw attention to the rubbish washing up on local beaches, and the name comes from those discarded items. Nearly two decades on, the environmental message is still at its heart. Emerging and professional Western Australian artists turn old materials into outdoor artworks, and every piece in the Main Exhibition must be made from at least 65 per cent recycled materials. Many of us grew up mending, reusing and making do, and it’s satisfying to see that same thrifty thinking turned into something this creative.
The exhibition is spread across three locations, so it’s worth taking your time. The Main Exhibition stretches along the foreshore with the ocean behind it. Next door in Churchill Park, the Schools Exhibition shows work by local primary and secondary students. A short stroll away, the Rockingham Arts Centre hosts the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition. These smaller pieces are full of fine detail, and they suit anyone who likes a closer look or would rather spend part of the visit indoors, out of the sun.
This year’s winners have been announced. The $10,000 Major Award went to Ben Veljacich for Wings of Reclamation. Andrew Mullet won the $5,000 Innovation Award for Eight Arms, One Sail, and Anita Staaden won the $5,000 Sustainability Award for Ghosted. Sherri Brown won the Maquette and Small Sculpture Award with The Sea Remembers, and local residents Alan and Loren Brinck won the City of Rockingham Local Resident Award for Nano-Plasti-City. Finding the winners and deciding whether you agree with the judges is half the fun.
You can also have your say. The People’s Choice Awards are decided by public vote, and you can vote online for your favourites in each exhibition until 5pm on Sunday 1 November. Every vote goes into the draw for the $500 Fremantle Ports Voter’s Prize (terms and conditions apply). If a piece really catches your eye, many of the artworks can also be bought online through the City of Rockingham.
There are still a few things on before the exhibition closes. The City’s sustainability pop-up in Churchill Park runs from 11am to 4pm on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October. It has practical tips, interactive games and take-home resources on cutting down plastic at home. Main Exhibition artists are giving free talks beside their sculptures at 10am on Saturday 31 October and between 10.30am and 12pm on Sunday 1 November. No bookings are needed, so just wait by the artwork at session time. Hearing an artist explain how a pile of scrap became a finished sculpture adds a lot to the visit.
Castaways has been designed so as many people as possible can enjoy it. Beach access matting runs to most of the artworks on the sand, so you can see them up close without trudging through soft sand. Beach wheelchairs and beach walkers can be borrowed free from the Information Tent in Churchill Park. Numbers are limited, bookings are essential and you’ll need photo ID showing your name and address, such as a driver’s licence. Churchill Park also has accessible toilets, plus a Changing Places facility for people with high support needs (an MLAK key is required). Individual visitors with a valid ACROD permit can use the accessible bays around the foreshore. Community groups and aged care facilities can apply for pre-approved group parking on the Beach Plaza by emailing the City at least five business days ahead, so keep this in mind for next year’s outing.
If the grandchildren are coming along, Castaways makes an easy and rewarding day out. Ask them to guess what each sculpture was made from and what it might have been in a past life. The Schools Exhibition might even inspire a recycled art project together at home. For an easy pace, aim for a weekday morning when it’s cooler, bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and finish with a coffee or lunch overlooking Rockingham Beach.
Art, sea air and a good dose of creativity make Castaways one of the loveliest free events on the spring calendar. If you can’t make it this year, pencil it in for next spring. It’s a much-loved annual tradition on the Rockingham Foreshore.
Castaways Sculpture Awards – At a Glance
Where: Rockingham Foreshore and Churchill Park, Rockingham Beach Road, Rockingham. The Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition is at the Rockingham Arts Centre.
When: Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
Cost: Free
People’s Choice voting closes: 5pm, Sunday 1 November 2026
Enquiries: City of Rockingham, (08) 9528 0333 or customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au
Website: City of Rockingham – Castaways Sculpture Awards
