Since 1995 colourful tin horses have continually been decorating the highway between Kulin and Hyden and entertaining travellers. They are well placed back away but still visible from the road. This way passing motorists who wish to take photos can pull in away from main thoroughfare.
This 15km stretch of road is now known as the Tin Horse Highway. As you drive this road the horses are a welcome sight from the endless dusty paddocks.
These horses are quirky community creations. They originally started to appear as a way to market the annual Kulin Bush races and have now become one of Western Australia's most popular self-drives.
New and increasingly cheeky and colourful tin horses are being added to the route regularly. So, even if you have travelled the Tin Horse Highway, previously, there will always be something new to see.
Every October, Kulin holds a competition for the best new Tin Horse as part of the Annual Kulin Bush Races weekend. Entry is free, and your creation could well become the newest attraction along the Tin Horse Highway. (www.wheatbelttourism.com)
Entry guidelines state Horses should be built to the following specifications:
Constructed from materials suitable to be displayed outdoors for several years
Engineered to withstand extreme outdoor conditions including strong winds and severe storm events
Of a suitable size to be displayed on roadside and visible from passing vehicles
To an aesthetically pleasing state
I think they definitely score on all four criteria. The Tin Horse Highway is free and open 24 hours a day year round.
Hyden Statues
The statues in Hyden are made of recycled tin and metal. Each statue has a plaque detailing the history of the local area relating to that statue, in a fun and informative way. The ingenuity, skill and talent of the artists in using these old materials is amazing. Items that could have been thrown into landfill are not reused and repurposed into objects for people to enjoy. I found it entertaining to realise what some of the parts were in their previous existence. In the photographer statue I got a chuckle over recognising his head that was once a speaker at a drive-in movie. (Yes, I feel old as I remember that one).
The Hilda and Harry statue pays tribute to the women pioneers. The "Hildas" of the district had to be tough women, often living in open sheds or tents. Bringing up their children, the Harry", educating them via correspondence, cooking for the shearers as well as their families.
Don Munday moved to the Hyden area in 1922. Don sheared sheep all over for more than 73 years! Johnny the mechanic would have been kept busy servicing all the farm machines and vehicles in the area.
Other statues show the creators interpretation of services needed in town in days gone by.
Located in the main street, this exhibition is free to all. If you wish to make a donation, the echidna here collects funds that support many community service projects.
How many of the bits and bobs that made up the statues did you recognise from their earlier incarnations?
Happy Travels!
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