A fleeting sense of
Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison
A fleeting sense of
2025
Especially for
National Threatened Species Day
Sunday 7th September, 2025
Scott Alley, Melbourne
August–November, 2025
As part of The Metro Tunnel Creative Program at Town Hall Station
It has been an absolute thrill to create a site-specific artwork for the Scott Alley Metro Tunnels hoarding in the city. An absolute, almighty thrill, which now that it has been installed in the quiet hours of the early morning on the 8th, we can share with you.
A fleeting sense of
Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, 2025
A fleeting sense of what could be. A fleeting sense of what was. A fleeting sense of what the world looks like if you could see, like some birds do, ultraviolet (UV) light. Transmuted from awareness to collage, a fleeting, euphoric sense of pollen, radiating, as dislodged, it settles. See a slither of their spectrum, a tendril of connectivity, to commemorate the death of the last Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), this National Threatened Species Day (Sunday 7th September, 2025)*. To Benjamin, the last of all of them, who died in captivity at Hobart Zoo in 1936.
Listen for a hoot, a snuffle, a rustle in the undergrowth. Find within, a pair of Swift parrots (Lathamus discolour); a lone Southern greater glider (Petauroides volans); a Brush-tailed rock-wallaby (southern population) (Petrogale penicillate); a family of Eastern barred bandicoots (mainland population) (Perameles gunnii); and an inspection of Pookila (New Holland mouse) (Pseudomys novaehollandiae). All species who now find themselves, like Benjamin did, on the threatened species list. Pause a while.
*Today, over 2,000 species of plant, animal and ecological communities, including over 590 native animals, are officially listed as threatened under Australia’s EPBC Act 1999 (WWF Australia).
Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison
A fleeting sense of
2025
Included above, a little look at the behind-the-scenes moments, as we planned our composition. From making sure our Swift parrots were in the sunniest spot where the eucalypts they favour would blossom, and the Greater glider, tucked safely in the shadows, awaiting the night shift, to making space to accommodate the necessary door signage. We held up different foil samples to find the one that would replicate our understanding of seeing in UV light and the sensation of pollen particles. We measured the door and gap, the construction site signage and overhead light, and added this in on our template, so that the microbat had a nice roost site and the pookila, above the doorframe had clearance.
With National Threatened Species Day around the corner, it seems only fitting to also feature images from Billy Buttons successful return to the Yarra Bend colony. Having made a full recovery, Billy Buttons flew off strongly and almost immediately, giving one giant loop overhead before becoming one of many, catching the sun in the trees, by the river.
Thank-you so much, Sarah, for inviting us, and for all your support, and Jeff, for meeting us on site with sticky-backed proofs and foil samples, and expertise. It has been exciting to grow this city corridor of biodiversity with you both.
As the Grey-headed flying fox colony, our forest-makers, our big bee-like beauties, returned to roost in the trees along the Birrarung, we headed to the ABC studios for a radio interview about the forthcoming BAT MASSIVE event, at the Abbotsford Convent.
REWIND! You can listen to the two of us on ABC radio (on Saturday 9th August) talking about all things wildlife, to promote BAT MASSIVE here.
FAST FORWARD! You can purchase tickets to this Saturday’s BAT MASSIVE here. And, as a bonus, ticket proceeds from BAT MASSIVE go to Wildlife Victoria’s ongoing rescue and protection of native bats.
Wing your way there on the 16th, at 5pm.
Image credit: Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, A fleeting sense of, 2025 commission as part of the Creative Program at Town Hall Station. The Metro Tunnel Creative Program presents ongoing artworks and activations across its station precincts during the construction phase of the project.
