Current Exhibiton

Forgotten Wilderness : The Spero – Wanderer Region

GRANT DIXON

NOVEMBER 04 - DECEMBER 01, 2024

Grant Dixon Artist’s Statement : Forgotten Wilderness : The Spero – Wanderer Region, Western Tasmania
The Southwest Conservation Area, also referred to as the Spero-Wanderer region after two of its main rivers, encompasses over 138,000 hectares south of Macquarie Harbour, western Tasmania. This tract of wild country represents a bit under 10% of the area of the adjacent Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). The area is managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) but its low-level conservation tenure means that mineral exploration and mining (for example) are permitted. Furthermore, for a long time PWS has had minimal staff and resources that can focus on the area so protection and management of the area’s natural and cultural values is and has been limited. For example, all-terrain vehicle (quad bike) use is a problem in parts of the area.

The World Heritage qualities of the Spero-Wanderer region are clear. The area’s considerable natural and cultural values are an extension of those within the adjacent TWWHA. Advocacy for improved recognition and protection of the area’s values dates from 1975. But the area’s values are still not widely appreciated and it remains poorly protected and managed. So far, this part of Tasmania’s southwest has been protected from major development by one of its most important attributes – its remoteness – but this is not a secure or long term solution. The case for adding the Spero-Wanderer region to the World-Heritage listing of the Tasmanian Wilderness is compelling.

Tasmanian wilderness conservation advocate and photographer, Grant Dixon, first visited the Spero-Wanderer country 40 years ago, and was associated with campaigns to protect the area during the 1980s and 1990s. A resurgent interest in enhanced protection for the Spero-Wanderer region amongst a new generation of Tasmanian environmental activists has inspired Grant’s resolve to expand his collection of photographic imagery of the area to assist in any campaigns.

The remoteness of this country necessitates extended trips and he spent more than 50 days criss-
crossing the region by foot and packraft, often solo and spread over three long visits during late 2022 to early 2024, documenting the area’s diverse landscapes and values. The images displayed here, printed on archival paper, were all captured during these trips.

Grant Dixon
Grant Dixon is a Tasmanian photographer whose work encompasses landscapes, abstract patterns in nature, wildlife, travel and adventure subjects.

Grant has been exploring Tasmania's uniquely wild and wonderful landscape for some forty years, with camera never far from hand, and, for more than thirty years, has also trekked, climbed, skied and photographed in many other wild and remote areas of the planet. He is particularly attracted to remote cool climate regions and mountain landscapes and has explored parts of all seven continents.

Images from Grant's travels have been widely published and continue the Tasmanian tradition of photography activating awareness of the environment.

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Coming up at Wild Island...

2024 EXHIBITION PROGRAM

December: Annual Summer Group Show

2025 EXHIBITION PROGRAM

January- February: Annual Summer Group Show continues

March: Anna Berger

April: Georgina Richmond

May: Jaclyn Poke

June: Nick Green + book launch

WILD ISLAND

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Grant Dixon - Aboriginal Midden, Sassy Creek from $275.00

Grant Dixon - Oonah Folding, Clydies Corner from $275.00

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