Currently under construction by CPB Contractors, Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project will feature 14 separate artworks across its four stations, created by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists who are either born or residing in Queensland.
All four stations—Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street, and Roma Street—will feature impactful artworks in various spaces, including elevators and escalators, platform screen doors, and wall installations.
Notably, Roma Street will feature an extensive standalone art mural, measuring 34 metres long and 13 metres high.
Waanyi artist Judy Watson explains that the Roma Street site installation will feature stories of large gatherings of Aboriginal people in this area.
“I imagine people moving through the space of the station and encountering this wall work, and as they move along and up the escalator, different aspects of this piece will reveal themselves”, adds Judy.
In a significant milestone for the project, 108 huge glazed panels measuring 2.7 metres long and 1.8 metres wide have been installed at Woolloongabba station. The piece, titled “plants, waters, gathering time” by Elisa Jane Carmichael, is the first official piece of art to be installed across the stations.
A celebration of Queensland’s cultural heritage and a compelling underground ‘art line’, Cross River Rail’s four stations will showcase 14 artworks by 13 renowned First Nations artists: D Harding, Judy Watson, Elisa Jane Carmichael, Teho Ropeyarn, Paula Savage, Megan Cope, Gordon Hookey, Brian Robinson, Naomi Hobson, Dylan Mooney, Jennifer Herd, Tamika Grant-Iramu, and Jody Rallah.
CPB Contractors is delivering the Cross River Rail, Integration and Systems Alliance package in a consortium alongside fellow CIMIC Group companies UGL and Pacific Partnerships. Works in the package include the design, supply and installation of the supporting rail system and integration of Cross River Rail into Queensland Rail’s train network, and an upgrade to Exhibition Station.