One of Australia’s most beloved tiny marsupials has gone larger than life, with six sculptures set to take over a town in outback Queensland.

Artists have unveiled six cement bilby sculptures in prominent spots across Charleville to celebrate the marsupial’s national day on Sunday.

The “bilby release” highlights the town’s title as Australia’s bilby capital and aims to educate visitors about the endangered species.

left image showing a woman sitting on cement bilby with arm in the air, right shows man sitting on cement bilby with thumbs up

Visitors and locals celebrated the trail’s launch on National Bilby Day, including Murweh Shire Mayor Shaun “Zoro” Radnedge (right). (Supplied: Bilby Art Trail Charleville)

Trail brings together art and nature

Charleville Cultural Association Arts project manager Carmel Williams said six artists were selected to paint the 300-kilogram cement casts based on their proposals.

“It just all came together beautifully, and each one is unique, with their different style,” she said.

a bilby with a floral design sits on a pallet

Six artist proposals were accepted to paint the bilbies, with the three unsuccessful applicants encouraged to apply for a future bilby release. (Supplied: Carmel Williams)

Ms Williams adapted the idea for the project after visiting the Kooka! Trail in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington in 2022.

But then began the task of raising money to create a cement mould and finding artists to decorate the bilbies.

two artist profiles of bilby painters hanging either side of a painting of a magpie

An exhibition at the Mulga Lands Gallery features local artists and those who worked on the bilby trail. (Supplied: Carmel Williams)

The cement bilbies are positioned in busy parts of town, including the airport, railway station and courthouse.

Over the coming years, it is hoped the trail will grow to 18 bilbies and include other towns in Murweh shire.

“It gives us an opportunity to shine the light on Save the Bilby Fund and the plight of the bilby,” Ms Williams said.

a man paints a cement bilby on a wooden pallet, with an unpainted bilby in the foreground

Richard Ranson chose to paint in a bold abstract theme. (Supplied: Bilby Art Trail Charleville)

Abstract and traditional artists decorate bilbies

While most of the artists had to travel to Charleville to paint their bilbies, Richard Ranson had the luxury of taking his time and waiting for the right conditions to paint.

Now he walks past his bilby every day, displayed in Graham Andrews Parklands.

a bilby with painted sunglasses positioned on mulch by a river footbridge

The bilby trail takes visitors through prominent and scenic places in Charleville. (Supplied: Richard Ranson)

“We’ve tried to place them so that when they take the photo, they’ve got a nice backdrop,” Mr Ranson said.

“They’re a great design. You can’t look at them and not smile.”

He said it showed what the town could do.

“It really does bring together the community, and it brings together the arts and the children. Children love them.”

five women stand behind a painted cement bilby

Louise Dean (left) travelled to Charleville to paint her bilby in four days. (Supplied: Bilby Art Trail Charleville)

Bilbies released into Qld National Park

With the population booming inside a predator-proof fence, conservationists have set the bilbies free. But can they survive on the outside?

Pentland artist Louise Dean was inspired by the Charleville Cosmos Centre, the Moreton Bay Ash gum tree and the town’s red dirt.

But she said she felt the pressure as she worked to finish her artwork during a brief visit to Charleville, about 800 kilometres from her hometown.

“Presenting a two-dimensional picture to an art exhibition like that is different to actually going and painting three-dimensional,” she said.

a large paper mache bilby with a star, gum leaf and red dirt design

Louise Dean practised her design on a paper mache and wire model built by her husband. (Supplied: Louise Dean)

“I have to admit it was a challenge. It was damned hard work, but it all came together in the end, and then they were very thrilled with it.

“It’s the most fantastic feeling to have your artwork on display like that and to have a town think that your artwork is worthy enough to put on display.”