A short drive outside of Melbourne in the pine forests of Mt Dandenong is a fantasy kingdom and one man's life-work in sculpture.
The William Ricketts Sanctuary holds 92 sculptures and characters which seemingly grow out of the landscape. All of which were made by one man: William Ricketts, whose six decades of artworks adorn the forest park.
![The park is full of almost 100 of Ricketts' pieces and buildings. Photo / Chris Haych, Flikr.com](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/57QEHC5FIJOKVIFSGJ3L447SDU.jpg?auth=9f5033345490643487b615178f127bd81be26c765ebcbf596165ffe769ce8579&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
40 km east out Melbourne, Ricketts arrived at the property in 1934. As a gifted sculptor in clay, he bought a four acre plot to pursue his talent.
On this land he spent time with the Arrente and Pitjantjatjara indigenous people. These people influenced his work and philosophy as he became a steward for the land.