Bringing awareness to one of Australia’s rarest mammals through art
Art Box Workshops term two classes focus on raising awareness of threatened species through art, and this term, our younger Art Box Workshops students (ages 6–8) explored the fascinating world of the Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, one of Australia’s most endangered mammals.
With fewer than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, students were captivated by this elusive nocturnal creature, and through a combination of scientific observation, storytelling, drawing, painting, printmaking, and collaborative artmaking, they discovered how wombats play an important role in the Australian ecosystem. They learned that wombats create extensive burrow systems beneath the earth that provide shelter for many other species and contribute to healthy landscapes.
Students also explored some of the challenges facing the Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, including habitat loss, land clearing, and competition for native grasses from introduced livestock.
As part of the project, students learned how wildlife researchers identify wombats through their unique tracks and signs. Using finger painting techniques, each student created their own wombat footprints, which were later incorporated into a large collaborative artwork.
The final artwork depicts a moonlit Australian bushland scene. Above the ground, wombats emerge beneath a full moon to feed on native grasses. Below the earth, students imagined a network of underground burrows where a community of wombats live and shelters.
Individual wombat artworks were combined with collaborative elements to create a powerful visual story about the importance of protecting threatened species and preserving habitat for future generations.
This artwork will be entered into the 2026 Wild at Art Competition, giving students an opportunity to share their message with a wider audience and advocate for one of Australia’s most vulnerable native animals.
“Beneath the Bush: Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat”
Beneath the Bush: The Hidden World of the Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat
We chose to create an artwork about the Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat because we learned that fewer than 500 are left in the wild.
We discovered that wombats are shy animals that mostly come out at night. They dig large underground burrows that help other animals and keep the soil healthy. We also learned that habitat clearing and competition for food from farm animals have made it harder for wombats to survive.
We studied wombat tracks and created our own wombat footprints using finger painting. We sketched, painted and imagined what life might look like both above and below the ground.
Our collaborative artwork shows a community of wombats living beneath the Australian bush under a full moon. Above the earth, they search for native grasses, while below the earth, they travel through their burrow systems.
Through this artwork, we hope people will learn about the Great Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat and understand why protecting its habitat is important.
We want future generations to live in a world where wombats still exist.
Art Box Workshops Students, Carmen. L, Zoe. P, Sumerset. K.S, Leila O’S, Audrey. M, Yusuf. S, Keira. F.
Ages 6–8
