Marbles

Background image: This is a bright sunny day, we see two young people playing a game of giant marbles, there are two marbles on lawn in front of the historic sandstone building of Port Arthur
Credit: Marbles at Port Arthur Historic Site, 2026. Image. Terrapin
Commissioned by the Port Arthur Historic Site

When and What

  • Now
  • Public Space
  • Commission

Summary

  • Developed for the interactive exhibition: Little Depraved Felons: The Boys of Point Puer
  • Designed and constructed as a set of oversized, eye-catching, playable marbles
  • Invites independent play, with or without the need for facilitation

Impact

  • Creating connection and engagement through shared, outdoor play for all ages.
  • Making the past tangible, recognisable, and unmistakably present
  • Designed to sit sensitively, with minimal impact to the heritage-listed historic site

Description

Roll up, roll up.

Play was rare for the boys at Point Puer, but marbles offered a small moment of fun. Inspired by this, we were asked to create a self-led outdoor play experience for visitors of the Port Arthur Historic Site.

We designed and built a giant set of marbles to accompany the interactive exhibition: Little Depraved Felons: The Boys of Point Puer.

This is a bright sunny day, we see one young person wearing a t-shirt and shorts, as well as a sunhat, playing a game of giant marbles, they’ve just thrown their giant marble and behind them is what looks to be a big green hedge.
Marbles at Port Arthur Historic Site, 2026. Image. Terrapin

Interested in Mables?

  • This is a bright sunny day, we see one person, with their arms in the air, as if in victory, playing a game of giant marbles, there are five marbles on lawn in front of the historic sandstone building of Port Arthur. In the distant background we see people walking in a group and a landscape of a waterway and big trees.
    Marbles at Port Arthur Historic Site, 2026. Image. Terrapin
  • This is a bright sunny day, we see one person, with a pink dress on and a big sun hat, who looks as though they’re just about to push their giant marble, they are playing a game of giant marbles on the lawn in front of the historic sandstone building of Port Arthur. In the distance we see people walking and a landscape of a waterway and many big trees.
    Marbles at Port Arthur Historic Site, 2026. Image. Terrapin
  • This is a bright sunny day, we see one person, who looks as though they’ve just pushed their giant marble, they are playing a game of giant marbles on the lawn in front of the historic sandstone building of Port Arthur. n the distant background we see people walking and a landscape of a waterway and many big trees.
    Marbles at Port Arthur Historic Site, 2026. Image. Terrapin