A public forum for changing the way we see and understand ‘Maritime Melbourne and Victoria’

Join ‘Amphibious’ Curator and cultural programmer Valentina Bydanova, partnering with RMIT early career Photographer Jesse Grey, in the Beyond the Docks Symposium to explore the Bass Strait oil rigs and their history as a ‘community landscape’ or, we should say, seascape.

The discovery of the nation’s largest oil field in 1967; the Kingfish oil field (in the Gippsland Basin), changed Australia and Victoria’s industry and economy. However, not many Melbournians/ Victorians know that Bass Strait is dotted with 22 oil rigs that provide Victoria with 60 per cent of its oil and gas needs. Still, most of us rightfully have questions and opinions about these industrial complexes, beyond the docks and beyond our view. Many wonder how oil rigs impact local and global environments, and how the transition from extractive to more sustainable models of fuel will be actualised by local governments, service providers, global leaders – and ‘the people’.

Hosted by the Amphibious curatorial and photographic team, this Symposium is designed for open, critical and curious public discussion. The audience’s questions and conversations about this world-class infrastructure on our doorstep will shape the teams’ following documentary photographic expedition to capture the often-invisible world of the Gippsland Basin oil rigs.

The photographs taken, and subsequent outdoor exhibition held at the Docklands, will serve as visual answers to public questions raised about this infrastructure that currently powers our lives.

The Amphibious team needs your input: Shaping maritime Melbourne

Come to discuss and shape a new approach to creating art and conversation about under-represented local marine-maritime spaces. The Amphibious team believes that we can position local waterways as cultural theatres of exchange and encounter, to inspire greater public appreciation of Melbourne as a maritime city.

This symposium organised by Amphibious’ Curator, Valentina Bydanova, will be an in-person event only. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a display of material from the RHSV collection which is related to Bass Strait oil rigs.

Image captions:

Offshore Platform Marlin B (ExxonMobil Australia)

Bass Strait Oil and Gas System (ExxonMobil Australia 2022)