Australian Town Crafts 60 Sculptures from 100,000 Oranges

In Griffith, Australia, artists aren't reaching for clay or marble. They're building masterpieces from 100,000 fresh oranges and grapefruits donated by local growers.

The southern New South Wales town is hosting its 29th annual Citrus Sculptures festival, where more than 60 carefully crafted artworks line the streets. Each sculpture uses hundreds of waxed citrus fruits attached with UV rubber bands to wire frames, creating everything from abstract designs to cultural tributes.

Vito Mancini, vice-chair of the local citrus growers association, helped build a giant orange made entirely of oranges. "It's like trying to stack a puzzle together," he said. The fruit gets washed and waxed before use to keep it shiny and fresh in the hot Australian sun.

The region grows about 30 percent of Australia's citrus, and growers take pride in providing only the best fruit for the displays. One sculpture alone required 600 UV rubber bands to hold the oranges in place.

But the festival is about more than just fruit. Jone Laweloa spent a week building a traditional Fijian village house from oranges to honor his heritage. He's participated in the event for 26 of its 29 years, working with 10 other community members to bring his vision to life.

"This is sort of the house we would build in the villages," Laweloa explained. "We want to show our identity to the rest of the community here." After 30 years in Griffith, the festival gives him a chance to share Fijian culture with his neighbors.

The Ripple Effect

The sculptures reflect Griffith's remarkable diversity. More than 60 nationalities call the town home, and the festival has become a celebration of that multicultural spirit. Tourism manager Mirella Guidolin said the event showcases "creativity, agriculture, multiculturalism, hospitality and just the community spirit."

The festival runs for 14 days, attracting thousands of visitors to the regional town. When it ends on October 24, none of the fruit goes to waste. Every orange and grapefruit will be collected and juiced, ensuring the artistic harvest serves a practical purpose too.

What started as inspiration from a French lemon festival has grown into something uniquely Griffith, where local produce meets global cultures in a celebration that's both beautiful and delicious.