Townsville North Queensland has a growing reputation for providing unique and enriching experiences for residents and visitors alike. These are founded on an inspiring combination of assets, including our natural environment, international-quality cultural activities and leading scientific institutions. Building on these strengths, Townsville North Queensland is further strengthening its position as a leading region in Northern Australia through facilitation of an underwater art museum.

The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) is a globally-significant asset to Townsville North Queensland and the surrounding regions, and more broadly to Queensland and Australia.

As the only underwater art museum in the Southern hemisphere, MOUA will act to highlight reef conservation, restoration and education on a global scale.

Located in the central part of the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Townsville North Queensland, MOUA is a series of installations – involving sculptured works placed on the seafloor – by the world’s leading underwater artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

Among the most famous and effective examples of this art form are works by Jason de Caires Taylor, who has installed major works in several Northern Hemisphere locations, including the Bahamas and Grenada (Caribbean), Cancun (Mexico) and London (Thames River).

High-quality, large-scale installations such as those done by de Caires Taylor attract very large numbers of visitors and high-profile media coverage.

The inaugural sculpture in the Southern Hemisphere’s first Museum of Underwater Art, the 'Ocean Siren' is installed alongside North Queensland’s iconic Strand Jetty in Townsville.

'Ocean Siren' is modelled on local Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner Takoda Johnson, with a vision to inspire reef and ocean conservation action and achieve positive environmental outcomes. The ‘Ocean Siren’ reacts to live water temperature data from the Davies Reef weather station on the Great Barrier Reef and changes colour in response to live variations in water temperature.

Jason DeCaires Taylor Ocean Siren

The John Brewer Reef 'Coral Greenhouse' is located in the heart of the Greater Barrier Reef Marine Park and is the largest MOUA installation, sharing a message of reef conservation and restoration.

It is the first-ever underwater building created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who hopes to advance education and offer opportunities for scientists, marine students and tourists to engage - either by snorkel or dive - in action-based learning and to conduct globally important research on coral reef restoration and new technology.

Weighing more than 58 tonnes, the 'Coral Greenhouse' is filled with and surrounded by 20 reef guardians who are helping to spread the message of reef conservation.

Coral Greenhouse at John Brewer Reef

Stage Three of the Museum of Underwater Art was installed as a dedicated snorkel trail, with the funding agreement reached, and completed in 2021.

Situated within the John Brewer Reef lagoon, the Ocean Sentinels Snorkel Trail is a dedicated snorkel installation featuring artworks of marine scientists and conservationists by underwater sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor.

Highlights

  • Townsville North Queensland is the global centre of excellence for marine science, education and research.
  • The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) will be a catalytic tourism project to enhance the State's tourism experience, support regional dispersal of visitation along the Great Barrier Reef, and boost awareness of the destination.
  • This project will enhance the region's art and reef experiences to leverage global tourism trends and with the project’s full investment anticipated to attract up to 50,000 visitors from across the globe each year.
  • Townsville Enterprise recently released an Economic Impact Assessment on what the proposed Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) would have on the Townsville North Queensland economy. This project is also a key project in Townsville Enterprise’s State Election Priorities

Visit the Official Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) Website