Artist : Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail

Sponsor: McDonalds Port Macquarie Lake Road

Location: McDonalds Lake Road Restaurant, 205 Lake Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Description / Inspiration

Bronze is an age-old medium that has been used to create extraordinary and beautiful animal sculptures.

It was always a dream of Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail Founder Margret Meagher to create a bronze Hello Koalas sculpture since establishing the Trail in 2014, after 3 years of research and development.

While the design is the same, the appearance of the Hello Koalas sculptures depends on the materials used and the artists involved. Apart from Bella The Bronze Koala, all the other Hello Koalas sculptures are made locally in fibreglass and painted or decorated by local artists so each design is completely unique.

This design was created in digital format as a true physical representation of the sub-species of koala found in Greater Port Macquarie.

There are 90 one metre high koalas on the Trail with the arrival of Bella The Bronze Koala and there is also a 2.5 metre Hello Koalas fibreglass sculpture called The Big Koala, Spirit of All Koalas.

Artist Biography

Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail was designed in digital format in 2013 after extensive consultation with the Clinical Director of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Two moulds were made by industrial artist John Belfield, from John's River, to create all the 90 fibreglass koala sculptures.

Location Info

Lake Road in Port Macquarie is the second busiest road in regional NSW! It's on the edge of the industrial area which is a growing hub of artisan bakeries, micro breweries, coffee companies, art and creative workshops, musical instruments, technical toys and giftware. McDonalds Port Macquarie Lake Road commissioned the 91st sculpture on the award-winning Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail in bronze and the restaurant opens on 12 December 2024. The restaurant will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Just nearby is the Hello Koalas Gallery + Gift Shop which is the world's best koala themed gift shop and art gallery, cementing the reputation for Port Macquarie as the "Koala Capital of Australia". The Gift Shop has a large display of Hello Koalas branded merchandise such as 2025 calendars, jigsaw puzzles, tote bags, T towels, T shirts (kids and adults), magnets, badges, postcards, lens cloths, stickers, artbooks and special art materials, notebooks, placemats, coasters and 3D printed figurines plus 'Paint your Own Hello Koalas plaster paint sets'. Plus a range of other high quality products with koala designs such as babywear, toys, cuddly koalas in all shapes and sizes, home accessories, apparel, back to school items, hats, scarves, socks, soaps, tableware, stationery, Christmas ornaments, phone pouches, mugs, door mats and more!! "Lady Lola Had a Dream" is Hello Koalas first children's book written and illustrated by local artist Francessca O'Donnell. All books are signed by the artist and there is a French edition too. A major attraction is the exclusive Port Macquarie edition of Monopoly with its own Hello Koalas koala token - the only Monopoly edition in the world with a koala token so it is really a collector's item. There is also a Top Trumps card game for Port Macquarie too! Hello Koalas Gallery + Gift Shop also has a display of 25+ Hello Koalas sculptures so if you are in Port Macquarie for just one day, visitors can see a dazzling exhibition of unique designs by local artists. The address is Shop 2 / 1A Blackbutt Road, just off a roundabout from Lake Road and 2 minutes drive away from McDonalds and Bella The Bronze Koala. Hours of opening are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. After hours by appointment (24 hours notice please to book a time) by calling 0416 641 482. At the same address of 1A Blackbutt Road, you'll find Lunico Candle Company, Good Therapy Coffee Co., The Seed Art School and Romer Locks on the corner beside Hello Koalas and next to Jaycar. Across the street you will see the bright pink building of Miss Motivator if you are looking for a gym workout. When the Hello Koalas Gallery + Gift Shop is open, you will see some Hello Koalas sculptures waiting outside to welcome you. And you can collect a free Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail Guide and Map and our friendly team will be happy to chat with you about Hello Koalas and Port Macquarie. Check out our website - www.hellokoalas.com or call 0416 641 482 for more information.