Drawing / Painting
Erin Nelson is an emerging artist originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand, who explores her world through acrylic paints, pen illustration, and occasionally photography. She has a passion for capturing the essence of faces, bodies, birds, and places, blending eye-catching cartoon-like colour blocking with emotive line work. Erin’s art draws inspiration from the mundane and messy, creating pieces that bridge the gap between her internal human experience and the external environment.
Though new to the art scene, Erin’s work reflects a growing talent and an exciting journey in the world of visual creativity. She is eager to make meaningful connections in Hedland and continue to deepen her understanding of this place.
"This [Radius 6.0] collection showcases a blend of detailed portraits and architectural scenes, offering a comprehensive view of Hedland through my artistic lens. I think it holds a mirror to the town and I hope it inspires pride on the harsh but beautiful place."
Pilbara, WA
Pen and acrylic paint on paper
20cm (h) x 29cm (w)
$350
The story of Clarks East End Store begins 130 metres down the road at Charlie’s Store. Built in the 1920s and owned by Charlie Hoskins, Charlie’s Store became a popular spot with its outdoor jukebox and timber dance floor and then was purchased by Don and Shirley Clark.
As Port Hedland’s population grew along with the rise of the iron ore industry, the need for a larger general store became evident. As such, the Clarks built a new store on the northeast corner of Crowe and Kingsmill Streets in the 1950s, which they named East End Store. This single-storey masonry building featured a stepped parapet concealing its gable roof, embodying post-war functional architecture.
East End Store holds significance as a rare commercial structure outside Port Hedland’s main commercial district and remains a historic landmark. Now a private residence, the beautiful brick facade still evokes a sense of place for long-time patrons and captures the attention of visitors and locals alike.
Pilbara, WA
Pen and acrylic paint on paper
20cm (h) x 29cm (w)
$350
Cooke Point Recreation Club was a significant recreational and social facility that epitomizes the unique lifestyle and community co-operation in Port Hedland.
Construction of the double storey masonry block building was completed in July 1977. It was built to replace the previous youth centre destroyed by Cyclone Joan in 1975. Costing over $200,000, the new hall included a large main hall for sports and social functions, a gymnasium, and two smaller rooms for various uses, as well as spacious change rooms.
The construction and operation of the centre relied heavily on community support and participation, with an initial committee formed to carry out the construction and operation [project, including Shire representatives, the Uniting Church reverend, and Lions Club and general members of the public. Community fund-raising furnished the centre and provided sporting equipment, and volunteers from the public and local service clubs supervised activities and staffed the Centre.
Later in its life it became a favourite drinking and social establishment with its closure still a sore talking point for the Hedland community.
Pilbara, WA
Pen and acrylic paint on paper
20cm (h) x 29cm (w)
$390
The JD Hardie Youth and Community in South Hedland, Western Australia is a community facility that has been redeveloped in stages since 2019. First constructed in 1970, it is the main youth and community center in the Town of Port Hedland.
The first stage of redevelopment was completed in 2021 turning it into the brightly painted and curiously shaped building depicted in my work.
It’s been really hard to source historical information on the JD Hardie but it is thought to be named after Hardie House which was established around 1964 in South Hedland. It was a hostel to accommodate children attending the Port Hedland High School that opened around that time. Hardie House was operating in the 1980s, by which time it was managed by Goldsworthy Mining, but it is uncertain when it closed.
Outside of the historical attributes, the building’s value really stems from the powerhouse of community it provides the young people, families, sports clubs and even it’s employees. Community work facilitated (while sometimes thankless and not easily unquantifiable through commercial metrics) is felt through every aspect of life in Hedland when present and even more so when it is taken away or reduced.
The Courthouse Gallery+Studio would like to acknowledge the Kariyarra, Ngarla, and Nyamal people as the Traditional Custodians of the Town of Port Hedland lands. We recognise their strength and resilience and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
The Courthouse Gallery+Studio is managed by The Junction Co. on behalf of the Town of Port Hedland.