On the Local Arts Trail in August 2026
— with Alison Desmond —
Whether you're a dedicated gallery-goer or simply looking for an enjoyable day out, August brings another wonderful collection of exhibitions, artists and creative experiences to discover across Moorabool. Here's what's happening on the local arts trail this month.
Gordon Bar Room Gallery
There must be something in the water in Gordon, these artists are so talented and their wares are insanely affordable for collectors.
Ceramics, prints, jewellery, textiles, wall art handmade cards which are totally frameable and much more, so go for a drive one Saturday and check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
Gordons Bar Room Bar Room Gallery is open 10am to 2pm Saturdays
Flack Post and Telegraph Office
Back from a midyear break, Flack PTO has an amazing line-up of artists to see including Lydia Snow’s Nature’s Garden series with works inspired by the Australian landscape.
She describes the “burning hot sun and northern winds driving across grass plains separated by a sandy track, inspired by the back beach sand dunes, Point Lonsdale.”
Also showing at Flack PTO in August is Karen Kirby, Lesley Rosochodski, Nichola Robert’s, Bianca Slade, Kasey Harrington, Lydia Snow, Damien Lewis and Danielle Briglia.
Flack PTO is open 11am to 2pm Friday and Sunday, and from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays
Ballan Art Space
Veins of the Earth continues until 9 August and Victoria Mack’s watercolour Ibis impresses with symmetry, mirroring and reflection bang on trend, a tonal exploration of birds, water and dense scrub.
The next show will be Silent Geometry with a variety of interpretations, from 13 August.
Ballan Art Space is open 10am to 3pm Thursday to Sunday
Ballan Library and Community Hub
The Karst Wetlands exhibition currently hanging at Ballan Library was thirty years in the making!
Artist Paul Anthony has been snorkelling for decades and seeks to highlight the environmental destruction of some of the most beautiful locations on Earth.
“My paintings are a personal response to the play of light and saturated colours of Ewans and Piccaninnie Ponds in Bunganditj (Boadnik) Country in the south-east of South Australia,” said Paul.
“My paintings respond more to the wetlands as they once were more than to their present state,” he said.
Ballan Library is open Monday to Thursday: 10am – 6pm, Friday: 10am – 5pm and Saturday: 9am – 2pm
Oak Grove Gallery, Ballan
View local landscape and seascape paintings inspired by the Australian Impressionists by Ballan artist Marty Cleal in his studio/gallery in the renovated Ballan News building.
For Moorabool’s best views drop in and see Marty at the restored Ballan News building.
Bacchus Marsh Art Collective (BMAC)
I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the latest exhibition by BMAC, titled Necklace and it is exactly that, an exhibition of necklaces utilising materials including metal, paper, wood, leaves and found objects.
They all really are beautiful works of art, comparative in scale, bringing together a beautifully curated wearable art exhibition.
MAPP Up in Lights, Bacchus Marsh
As part of NAIDOC week, we are lucky to have Dr Deanne Gilson showing a series of paintings that culminated in her commissioned work for the new Ballan Library and Community Hub.
The series, Yin Yin Yonbarra, Moorroobull Wadawurrung Dja, Songbirds of the Moorabool and Wadawurrung Country, is inspired by the Bunjil creation story and the artist’s childhood memories of growing up in Gordon.
All kinds of native birds are depicted as well as the water people who lived around Moorabool River, Bostock Resevoir and Lal Lal Falls.
Moorabool Artists’ Gathering
Join Izzy Roberts-Orr for a free, practical and inspiring session on securing support for creative projects and learn what makes a strong funding application or project pitch.
The gathering at Ballan Library Community Hub from 10am to 12pm on August 8 is free, but bookings are appreciated, please call 03 5366 7100 or email arts@moorabool.vic.gov.au.
Public and Community Arts
Moorabool Shire has an amazing collection of public art, from markers of place in bush settings, to Ballan’s cosily yarn-bombed Inglis Street, to eye-catching paste-ups in the townships.
You can find out more about Moorabool’s public art pieces at the Moorbool Shire website
About On the Local Arts Trail
The Local Arts Trail column is released through our monthly eNewsletter and on this website at the start of each month.
If you have an arts-related exhibition or event you’d like to let us know about, you can use our Submit an Event form.
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