There’s a mechanic in the middle of the desert in South Australia who was quite useless at fixing cars but quite brilliant at pulling cars apart and making mutated sculptures out of them.
Welcome to Mutonia.
Standing on skinny, rusting legs in the middle of sand, rocks and desolation, lies a gigantic metal dingo, known as ‘the big dog’. Its head is made out of an old Chrysler and body from disused water tanks. There’s also a car hoisted into the air that spins like a mouse on a wheel, appropriately called Spinning Wheel. A robot made out of an old engine waves enthusiastically with its muffler arm. Two planes were hoisted up onto their tails to create Plane Henge, and there’s a derelict old bus sunbathing.
Temperatures soar to over 100 degrees in this arid, hostile area so the dingo’s big stupid grin on the horizon will boost any lethargic mood. It’s a great thing Robin Cook gave up his day job and says, 'once there is no more waste I will be out of a job’.
A little sign painted onto a disused bomb sums up his sense of humour: Rust in Peace.
Mutonia Sculpture Park is down the Oodnadatta Track on the way to Marree.
Standing on skinny, rusting legs lies a gigantic metal dingo, known as ‘the big dog’. Its head is made out of an old Chrysler Valiant, and body from a disused water tank left over from the steam train days. Robin had to drag the old valiant sedan for 15km to get it into place, then wynch it up. The scale of the Big Dog is as impressive as its stupid wide grin.
"The Big Dog " — Photo Credit: Down Under Rust
Another car was hoisted into the air and spins like a mouse on a wheel, appropriately called Spinning Wheel. Robin says, of his sculptures, ‘if you put these in the city people would drive right past them but here, you drive by and can’t help but stop and take notice.”
"The Spinning Wheel" — Photo Credit: Outback Dusty Trails
Two planes were hoisted up onto their tails to create Plane Henge, the gateway into Mutonia, with the help of about 50 people and a slab of beer. The American-made Beachcraft Baron planes had ended up in an old scrapyard in Melbourne when Robin acquired them. Initially, when they were on the ground people were asking if they would be tail down but that was “too pessimistic” for him. He wanted the planes to point straight up like a rocket. After erecting Planehenge, a local aboriginal friend told Robin that he’d put Oodnadatta Track on the map. The tourist map!
"Plane Henge "
A robot made out of an old engine waves enthusiastically with its muffler arm and a derelict old bus sunbathes in the heat.
"Robot & Bus" — Photo Credit: Outback Dusty Trails
Rather than follow the sun, this time tree follows the moon.
"The Time Tree" — Photo Credit: Outback Dusty Trails
A little sign painted onto a disused bomb sums up Robin’s sense of humour: Rust in Peace.
"Lots of Humour" — Photo Credit: Outback Dusty Trails
Mutonia Sculpture Park is down the Oodnadatta Track on the way to Marree. between William Creek and Marree.
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