Maamang Ninda Whale Tail Sculpture

Be wonderstruck by the scale of this remarkable steel sculpture by local artist Amiel Lambert. Beautifully emulating the shape and grace of a humpback whale, the tail spans an impressive 3.6 metres from tip to tip. But it’s just a baby, comparable in size to the juvenile humpback whales that frolick in the sheltered waters of Flinders Bay from mid-May to August.

Origins of the tail

The original design for the Whale Tail (Maamang Ninda) was conceived by members of the local public art group Paint By Numbers, artists Wendy Strucelj and Frank Blocksidge. Their shared purpose was to honour the local community’s deep connection with Taalinup Augusta’s rich marine environment, and local artist Amiel Lambert meticulously brought this vision to life in galvanised steel.

About the sculptor

Amiel Lambert is an emerging metalwork artist living in the Augusta-Margaret River coastal hamlet of Hamelin Bay. Son of internationally renowned sculptor Lou Lambert, Amiel’s passion for metalwork originally led him to a career as a boilermaker. After a serious work-related injury brought him back to Hamelin Bay and his creative roots, he began sculpting and welcomed the opportunity the Maamang Ninda project presented to test his skill and give something back to his community.

Amiel worked in collaboration with engineer Mark O'Grady and members of the Augusta Men’s Shed to form and weld over 136 metres of steel bars for the tail’s intricate supporting internal skeleton. Adding 98 individually cut panels of perforated steel sheets to form the outer skin, it weighs in at 750 kilos.

Journey through Augusta

Take the scenic route to Maamang Ninda with a 20-minute riverside walk on the Pelican Trail from Ellis Street Jetty. Hugging the shores of the Hardy Inlet, this is where you’re most likely to meet Taalinup Augusta’s iconic resident pelicans, often perched in platoons on rocks and jetties along the trail.

Drive south along Albany Terrace and Leeuwin Road towards the old Flinders Bay settlement and join the Whale Trail at Granny’s Pool. This easy trail leads you to the best whale-watching vantage points for catching the tail-sailing, breaching and spy-hopping action that fills Flinders Bay from mid-May to August.