Rob Walker’s Art of Renewal

Rob never expected to become an artist. It wasn’t until after retiring and moving to Coochiemudlo Island that creativity “snuck up on him”. Now, his metal and wood artworks are not only imaginative, but also environmentally conscious.

By sourcing materials locally, Rob gives new life to items that might otherwise end up in landfill. His creations are delightfully quirky – from farmyard sculptures for the garden, to wind chimes crafted from timber fish or old cutlery, to larger works fashioned from repurposed horseshoes, wire, and copper pipes. He even experiments with pewter casting.

For Rob and his wife, island life is paradise. “Where else can you reach a beach within five minutes in any direction?”, he asks. Surrounded by vibrant birdlife and lush trees, it feels to them like living in a tropical forest.

Rob’s message is simple but urgent: reuse instead of discard. “We only have one planet”, he reminds us. “If we ruin this one, we don’t get a second chance”.