William Boland Park is to become the official starting point of the Waimate Trail, with feature artworks in the area bringing life and identity to this part of town and celebrating our community and history.
At its 21 April 2026 meeting, Council considered the Waimate2gether Te Ara Waimatemate Sculpture Trail Starting Point Proposal, which focuses on enhancing a 250-metre stretch of Queen Street. The specific area includes the Queen Street frontage from Goldsmith Street to William Street.
The project includes three key elements:
• Settler Sculpture - A recycled brick and corten steel artwork, The Arrivals by Lyn Hewitson, to be installed in front of the Salvation Army premises, will depict an early settler family.
• Trail Welcome Signage - Signs will be placed near the Lions’ seating area, 45 metres from the corner of Goldsmith Street, outlining the trail route and greeting users. Parks and Reserves will plant and maintain the area around the signage.
• Queen Street Mural – A 34m by 2.4m mural by Bill Scott, to be mounted on the swimming pool fence facing Queen Street. The mural will depict an early steam train carrying goods of the era.
There is also the possibility of an additional sculpture in Boland Park which, if it goes ahead, would be placed about 75 metres from the corner of Goldsmith Street.
Council also discussed the pool fence, as the weight of the large plywood panels the mural is to be painted on would exceed the capacity of the existing structure. It was determined that Waimate2gether would pay for a replacement fence on the Queen Street side of the pool, and Council would wait until the rest of the fencing reached its end of life before replacing it.
Council accepted the proposal and requested a further report outlining the full project costs, any Council contributions, and the expected lifespan of the current pool fencing.
