Back Beach Poetry Trail

The Back Beach Poetry Trail was created by a group of West Harbour writers and poets, and features the work of Port Chalmers ceramic artist Tina Grubba. Comprising of 11 rectangular tiles each inscribed by poetry written by group members evoking thoughts and feelings triggered by the site. Opened in 2014 by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull the trail marked the 10^th anniversary of the Back Beach Writers’ Collective, whose members had been gathering monthly to critique and support each other’s writings.

Early support for the project came from the late Barry Brickell, OBE. Brickell was a potter, writer and founder of Driving Creek Railway on the Coromandel Peninsula. During his prolific career he had strong connections to Port Chalmers and Back Beach and worked collaboratively with the late Ralph Hotere, ONZ, in the township during the mid-1970s.

To make the tiles, Grubba used a process she developed in 2013 and this prototype was used to produce millions of tiles on the outer layer of the new headquarters of Chinese fashion house Marisfrolg in Shenzhen, China. Dunedin architects Van Brandenburg designed the building.

Three years in the planning, a year in the making; the Back Beach Poetry Trail will evoke creativity for decades.

UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals