About
Parks Victoria is a statutory authority, created by the Parks Victoria Act 1998 and reporting to the Minister. Our estate covers more than 4 million hectares, or about 18 per cent, of Victoria. We manage the largest and most diverse collection of heritage places on public land in Victoria, with around 2,900 heritage assets and many places of National and State significance.
Our primary responsibility is to ensure parks are healthy and resilient for current and future generations. We manage parks in the context of their surrounding landscape and in partnership with Traditional Owners.
Situated in the Dandenongs in a ferny glade, William Ricketts Sanctuary is a place of beauty and tranquillity, due both to the natural setting and the mystical sculptures half hidden among ferns along the pathways. It is a place for quiet reflection and for contemplation of the essence of the vision of William Ricketts. Many travel across the world to visit this place time and time again.
The William Ricketts Sanctuary (and its contents) can be considered an important part of Australia's cultural heritage simply because it is a unique combination of thought, expression and response to a landscape. The Ricketts expression has been a singular vision pursued for a lifetime. The Ricketts collection forms the largest collection of outdoor sculpture by one artist in Australia and ranks among one of only a few known collections of outdoor ceramic sculpture in the world.
Our collection
Parks Victoria, William Ricketts Sanctuary Art Collection (1964)
The William Ricketts Sanctuary (and its contents) can be considered an important part of Australia's cultural heritage simply because it is a unique combination of thought, expression and response to a landscape. The Ricketts expression has been a singular vision pursued for a lifetime. The Ricketts collection forms the largest collection of outdoor sculpture by one artist in Australia and ranks among one of only a few known collections of outdoor ceramic sculpture in the world.
