Artists: Justin Martin, Susan Milne, Greg Stonehouse
Design consultation: Tilt Industrial Design
Location: Kwinana, WA
The Cara Djubak public artwork on Thomas Road has become an iconic landmark and a prominent entry statement to the Casuarina region. Towering at 10 metres and over seven metres wide, this striking landmark was completed in February 2024. Cara Djubak portrays a yooral — a traditional Indigenous carrying bowl —gracefully filled with delicate spider orchids and is illuminated at night, capturing the attention of onlookers from the Thomas Road off-ramp.
Conceived and created by Susan Milne, Greg Stonehouse and Nyoongar Yamatji artist Justin Martin, with cultural advisory from Cheryl Martin and design support from Tilt, the project honors the rich Indigenous heritage of the area. The design is deeply symbolic, referencing five known Aboriginal Heritage sites and embedding significant Nyoongar motifs. Central to the artwork are the spider orchids, a traditional part of the Nyoongar spring diet, and the yooral, reinforcing the cultural narrative.
Partridge commenced structural engineering work on the project in June 2023, completing the installation by February 2024. Located in the centre of a roundabout, the design had to address critical wind loading considerations due to its exposed position and height.
The structure’s intricate composition involved weathering steel ribs, each up to 7.1 meters wide, with uniquely patterned laser-cut holes and slots meticulously arranged to maintain the panels’ structural integrity. These ribs were supported by a concealed grillage of steel SHS beams connected to three CHS columns. The elegant spider orchids, adding dynamic visual interest, were crafted from stainless steel posts of varying heights, topped with laser-cut petals measuring 5mm in thickness.
