City works on repair solution for Docklands’ Blowhole sculpture

The City of Melbourne has confirmed it will continue exploring options to refurbish Docklands’ much-loved Blowhole sculpture, following recent maintenance challenges that have left the artwork partly inoperable.

The 15-metre-high wind-powered kinetic sculpture by Sydney-based artist Duncan Stemler has stood in Docklands Park since 2005, commissioned by VicUrban (now Development Victoria) and later transferred to the City’s Art and Heritage Collection.

Known for its striking steel and anodised aluminium cups that spin with the wind to create shifting patterns of light and movement, the work has become an icon of Docklands’ identity.

Earlier this year, contractors attempted to restore the movement of the artwork’s kinetic components. While some success was achieved, further assessment found major problems with the bearings, many of which could not be repaired.

A council spokesperson said that despite these setbacks, “there are no plans to dismantle The Blowhole,” confirming that work will continue finding a long-term refurbishment solution.

Local residents have voiced strong support for the sculpture’s preservation.

“It has stood as a unique artistic landmark in our precinct, embodying the spirit of innovation and public art that defines Docklands,” one resident said. “I – and many others – would be deeply disappointed to see this piece removed without broader consultation or a final effort to repair it.”

Stemler’s work has been celebrated as a powerful example of environmentally responsive public art. By day, the anodised cups pulse with reflected sunlight; by night, they are lit from within. Its form echoes a yacht’s anemometer, tying into Docklands’ maritime theme, while its movement once ranged from calmness to frenzy depending on the wind.

For now, Docklands locals and visitors may see less motion than usual, but the city insists the sculpture’s future is secure as efforts continue to restore it to its former dynamism. •