Sea Stars

Sea Stars poster

Artists: Wills Projects, 2022

Artist statement:

Sea Stars celebrates 100 years of the Port Noarlunga Jetty. Mini sculptures are set into the jetty honouring local icons. Spot the 8 sculptures placed along the jetty. The jetty is an integral part of the local community. A dry platform to engage with the ocean and a reef below that supports marine life.

We wanted to make an artwork that reflects how special the area is, our work offers another way to experience the area and understand the local environment. The work is site specific, designed to fit in and uses materials that are allowed to weather and wear with time.

Commissioned by City of Onkaparinga to celebrate the centenary of the Port Noarlunga Jetty 1921-2021.

(Can you find all the Sea Stars? Scan the QR Code to discover more).

Old Wife Enoplosus armatus. A common Port Noarlunga reef fish that has a small head and a venomous spine on the first, spikey top fin. The common name apparently relates to the grinding sound that this fish makes when stressed from capture.

Old Wife Enoplosus armatus. A common Port Noarlunga reef fish that has a small head and a venomous spine on the first, spikey top fin. The common name apparently relates to the grinding sound that this fish makes when stressed from capture.

(JPG, 258KB)
Australian Pied Oystercatcher -Haematopus longirostris. This shy, black-and-white shorebird is found on sandy beaches and mudflats. Pied Oystercatchers use their red, chisel-like beak to stab and pick at foods such as molluscs, crabs, worms and small fishes. Pied Oystercatchers nest high up on the beach or edges of estuaries, often in sandy areas with dried seaweed, shell grit or small stones (shingle).

Australian Pied Oystercatcher -Haematopus longirostris. This shy, black-and-white shorebird is found on sandy beaches and mudflats. Pied Oystercatchers use their red, chisel-like beak to stab and pick at foods such as molluscs, crabs, worms and small fishes. Pied Oystercatchers nest high up on the beach or edges of estuaries, often in sandy areas with dried seaweed, shell grit or small stones (shingle).

(JPG, 493KB)
Abalone Haliotis species. Edible snails with a low spiral shell that contains breathing holes. Abalone are vegetarian, and can lift their shell to catch dislodged red seaweed that is floating by in the water. The meat of abalone is eaten as a seafood delicacy, and the pearly inner surface of the shell has long been used in jewellery, trinket boxes and furniture.

Abalone Haliotis species. Edible snails with a low spiral shell that contains breathing holes. Abalone are vegetarian, and can lift their shell to catch dislodged red seaweed that is floating by in the water. The meat of abalone is eaten as a seafood delicacy, and the pearly inner surface of the shell has long been used in jewellery, trinket boxes and furniture.

(JPG, 421KB)
Sea Sweep -Scorpis aequipinnis. A silvery, diamond-shaped fish that is common around jetties and shallow reefs. Sweep are curious fishes and often follow divers and snorkellers. Sea Sweeps have a very small mouth, and eat plankton in the water.

Sea Sweep -Scorpis aequipinnis. A silvery, diamond-shaped fish that is common around jetties and shallow reefs. Sweep are curious fishes and often follow divers and snorkellers. Sea Sweeps have a very small mouth, and eat plankton in the water.

(JPG, 334KB)
Southern Biscuit Star -Common Biscuit Star Tosia australis. A common, 5-armed sea star found in many mixed colours and patterns. Biscuit stars live on reefs, and eat sponges and other mat-forming invertebrates, and algae. Occasionally, 4-armed square biscuit stars are found.The Vermillion Seastar ‘Biscuit Star’ -Pentagonaster duebeni is a single coloured star found on reefs across the southern half of Australia, with pale lines that look like grout, giving this sea star a “mosaic tile” appearance

Southern Biscuit Star -Common Biscuit Star Tosia australis. A common, 5-armed sea star found in many mixed colours and patterns. Biscuit stars live on reefs, and eat sponges and other mat-forming invertebrates, and algae. Occasionally, 4-armed square biscuit stars are found.The Vermillion Seastar ‘Biscuit Star’ -Pentagonaster duebeni is a single coloured star found on reefs across the southern half of Australia, with pale lines that look like grout, giving this sea star a “mosaic tile” appearance

(JPG, 459KB)
Mask and Snorkel. These two items enable visitors to directly experience the colourful and lively underwater environment of Port Noarlunga. More than 200,000 people visit each year to SCUBA dive, snorkel and swim around the reef sanctuary and the jetty piles.

Mask and Snorkel. These two items enable visitors to directly experience the colourful and lively underwater environment of Port Noarlunga. More than 200,000 people visit each year to SCUBA dive, snorkel and swim around the reef sanctuary and the jetty piles.

(JPG, 372KB)
Short-tailed Nudibranch -Ceratosoma brevicaudatum. A common, colourful sea slug that has gills on its back (nudibranch means “naked gill”) and two horn-like extensions on the head called rhinophores, for sensing the surroundings. This nudibranch eats pink, blue and purple sponges, and stores the sponge chemicals for defence.

Short-tailed Nudibranch -Ceratosoma brevicaudatum. A common, colourful sea slug that has gills on its back (nudibranch means “naked gill”) and two horn-like extensions on the head called rhinophores, for sensing the surroundings. This nudibranch eats pink, blue and purple sponges, and stores the sponge chemicals for defence.

(JPG, 290KB)
Port Jackson Shark -Heterodontus portusjackson and egg. Port Noarlunga is an important breeding and nursery area for Port Jackson Sharks (known by divers as “PJs”). Some are migratory, returning each spring to aggregate at Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach for breeding and laying eggs; others are resident in the shallows for long periods. Port Noarlunga is a major nearshore nursery area in South Australia for baby PJ sharks after they hatch from their brown, corkscrew-shaped egg cases. The young sharks eat worms and other soft-bodied animals filtered out of the sand, and older Port Jackson sharks crunch on crabs, molluscs, sea urchins and small fishes.

Port Jackson Shark -Heterodontus portusjackson and egg. Port Noarlunga is an important breeding and nursery area for Port Jackson Sharks (known by divers as “PJs”). Some are migratory, returning each spring to aggregate at Port Noarlunga and Christies Beach for breeding and laying eggs; others are resident in the shallows for long periods. Port Noarlunga is a major nearshore nursery area in South Australia for baby PJ sharks after they hatch from their brown, corkscrew-shaped egg cases. The young sharks eat worms and other soft-bodied animals filtered out of the sand, and older Port Jackson sharks crunch on crabs, molluscs, sea urchins and small fishes.

(JPG, 334KB)

Location

Port Noarlunga jetty, Port Noarlunga 5167  View Map

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