Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a nonprofit public art trail operating 91+ hand-painted koala sculptures across Greater Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, serving tourists, families, local businesses, and conservation organizations through free outdoor displays, merchandise sales, and koala conservation fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPort Macquarie, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail does
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a public art project and regional tourism attraction founded by Margret Meagher in September 2014 and operated by Arts and Health Australia Pty Limited, an Australian private limited nonprofit. The product is a free, self-guided outdoor sculpture trail comprising 91 individually hand-painted, one-metre-high fibreglass koala sculptures built from two standardized moulds produced by John Belfield, plus a 2.5-metre landmark sculpture (The Big Koala, installed September 2022) at the Guulabaa tourism precinct in Cowarra State Forest. Each sculpture is uniquely painted by a different local Australian artist with environmental, wellbeing, heritage, or cultural designs, and the sculptures are physically installed at sponsor business locations across Greater Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast in New South Wales, Australia.
The business model is sponsorship-driven with merchandise monetization. Local businesses, government entities, and nonprofits sponsor individual sculptures in exchange for association with the trail and visible brand placement, while merchandise revenue comes from a single physical gallery (currently being upgraded and relocated to The Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre) and a global e-commerce storefront (shop.hellokoalas.com). Retail SKUs include koala-themed apparel, souvenirs, a children's book ("Lola Had a Dream" / "Le Rêve de Lola," RRP A$24.99), an exclusive Port Macquarie special-edition Monopoly game, Top Trumps Big Things Australia (A$12.95), colouring books, and Paint-Your-Own kits. All proceeds from Big Koala merchandise fund the Big Koala Educational Program, and conservation donations flow through Arts and Health Australia.
The customer base spans tourists and families visiting Port Macquarie, local businesses using sculpture sponsorship for marketing visibility, schools and educational groups, conservation NGOs (notably Koala Conservation Australia), and government partners including Create NSW and Forestry Corporation of NSW. Distribution combines physical retail, outdoor trail visitation, touring exhibitions to major Australian botanic gardens, and the online shop. The organization has won multiple Australian Street Art Awards (Gold 2022, Silver 2023 for the trail; Silver 2022, Gold 2023 for The Big Koala) and recurring NSW Tourism Awards (2015–2022), which is the principal commercial credential supporting both sponsorship renewals and tourism referrals.
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
- Legal name
- Arts and Health Australia Pty Limited
- Website
- https://hellokoalas.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a nonprofit public art trail operating 91+ hand-painted koala sculptures across Greater Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia, serving tourists, families, local businesses, and conservation organizations through free outdoor displays, merchandise sales, and koala conservation fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Art Tourism
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB), Community-Based & Indigenous-Led Ecotourism (THAAAEAH)
Keywords
Where Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Macquarie
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Gift Shop Sales: Sale of koala-themed merchandise including toys, apparel, accessories, homewares, books, and Hello Koalas branded products through physical gallery shop and online store.
- Children's Books: Sale of children's books including 'Lola Had a Dream' (RRP $24.99) and 'Le Rêve de Lola' French edition. Proceeds support conservation efforts.
- Board Games and Collectibles: Exclusive Monopoly Port Macquarie edition with unique koala token and Top Trumps Big Things Australia card game ($12.95). Collector items supporting Big Koala educational program.
- Conservation Donations: All proceeds from Big Koala merchandise go to The Big Koala Educational Program publishing children's books about koala conservation. Funds raised from projects distributed among essential environmental causes through Arts and Health Australia.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trail Access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Books |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Collectible Games |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a free public art installation featuring 91+ hand-painted one-metre high koala sculptures distributed across Greater Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast region of NSW, Australia. Each sculpture is uniquely designed by local Australian artists with environmental, wellbeing, heritage, and cultural themes. The trail operates as a free, self-guided tourist attraction complemented by a gift shop selling koala-themed merchandise, children's books, and collectible board games.
Product overview
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a public art project established in September 2014, comprising 91+ unique hand-painted one-metre high koala sculptures distributed across Greater Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast region. The core offering is the free, self-guided sculpture trail where visitors discover artistic koala sculptures painted by local Australian artists with themes spanning environmental conservation, wellbeing, heritage, and culture. Adjacent products include the Hello Koalas Gallery & Gift Shop selling koala-themed merchandise, exclusive board games (Port Macquarie Monopoly and Top Trumps), and children's books including 'Lola Had a Dream'. The flagship landmark is The Big Koala, a 2.5-metre sculpture at Guulabaa tourism precinct. The project supports koala conservation advocacy while providing tourism and community cultural development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail A public art sculpture trail featuring 91+ hand-painted one-metre high koala sculptures distributed across Greater Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast. Each sculpture is unique, hand-painted by local Australian artists with environmental, wellbeing, heritage or cultural designs. Free and open every day of the year.
- The Big Koala A 2.5-metre high iconic public artwork at Guulabaa (Place of Koala) tourism precinct in Cowarra State Forest. Features 31 koalas ranging from 30-55cm painted by Pauline Roods, serving as the landmark sculpture for the region.
- Hello Koalas Gallery & Gift Shop Physical retail location selling koala-themed merchandise including apparel, gifts, puzzles, books, and exclusive Hello Koalas branded products. Temporarily closed with relocation planned to the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre.
- Lola Had a Dream (Children's Book) Children's book inspired by Lady Lola The Dancing Koala sculpture at the Glasshouse Arts Centre. Written and illustrated by Francessca O'Donnell, available in English and French editions ('Le Rêve de Lola').
- Monopoly: Port Macquarie Special Edition Collector's edition board game featuring Port Macquarie locations and Hello Koalas characters. Includes unique Hello Koalas koala token and supports the Big Koala Educational Program. Available online and at the gift shop.
- Top Trumps Big Things Australia A fun card game complementary to the Monopoly board game featuring Big Things of Australia. Priced at $12.95, sold alongside the Monopoly game.
- ArtWalk CBD Tour One-hour self-guided walking tour covering 9 Hello Koalas artworks around the Port Macquarie CBD. Includes sculptures at various sponsor locations with descriptions of artists and themes.
- Big Koala Educational Program Educational program currently raising funds to publish a second children's book about koalas. Written by Pauline Roods, drawing on images of the 31 little koalas painted on The Big Koala to tell stories about caring for koalas.
- Paint Your Own Hello Koalas Kit 'Paint your Own Koala' paint kits containing 15cm Hello Koalas plaster figurine, paints, brush and palette. Available at the gift shop for creative activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gold winner Best Sculpture Trail or Park in Australia - Australian Street Art Awards 2022
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Forestry Corporation of NSWcoreProject partner developing Guulabaa (Place of Koala) tourism and educational precinct in Cowarra State Forest. Sponsors The Big Koala (2.5 metre landmark sculpture) and Woody the Forestry Koala at Sealy Lookout, Coffs Harbour. Guulabaa includes wild koala breeding centre and adventure park.
- WildNets Adventure ParkcoreProject partner at Guulabaa precinct in Cowarra State Forest. Adventure park featuring activities and wildlife experiences. Also sponsors Crusader Koala sculpture.
- Koala Conservation AustraliacoreProject partner operating wild koala breeding and research centre at Guulabaa precinct. Organised 3rd National Koala Hospital conference July 2020.
- Bunyah Local Aboriginal Land CouncilcoreProject partner at Guulabaa developing gallery and cafe. Co-designed Guula sculpture with Wauchope TAFE Aboriginal visual arts students. Preserves indigenous cultural heritage through art.
- Arts and Health AustraliacoreParent national organization. Funds raised from projects and events distributed among essential environmental causes. Founder Margret Meagher serves as Executive Director. Sponsor of PK Sparkles and Kalido sculptures.
- Regional Australia BankmajorMajor sponsor of The Big Koala and Hello Koalas sculpture 'Kirralee' displayed at their Horton Street Branch. Brand prominently featured on Big Koala materials.
- Create NSW (NSW Government)majorNSW Government arts and culture agency providing funding for Unity sculpture and Harmony mosaic, promoting inclusion and diversity.
- The Glasshouse Arts and Visitor CentremajorDisplays 6 Hello Koalas sculptures (Winnie the Unicorn, Mayor of the Koala Republic, Dame Koala, Madame Butterfly, PK Sparkles, Lady Lola) and Hello Koalas merchandise. Key tourism and cultural partner.
- Greater Port Macquarie Tourism AssociationmajorSponsor of Mayor of the Koala Republic sculpture. Key partner in promoting Hello Koalas as tourist attraction for the region.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Port Macquarie Koala Hospital & Koala Conservation Australia: Partner organization operating the wild koala breeding and research centre at Guulabaa, and the historic Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Closely comparable as a koala-conservation and tourism entity in the same region; functionally a strategic ally and adjacent destination.
- Cowra Sculpture Trail: Permanent outdoor sculpture trail in regional NSW, supported by local sponsorship and artist commissions. Closely comparable as a regional NSW free, self-guided sculpture trail that monetises through sponsorship, tourism, and merchandise.
- Sculpture by the Sea: Australia's largest annual outdoor sculpture exhibition along the Bondi–Tamarama coastal walk. Directly comparable as a free, self-guided outdoor public sculpture experience that drives regional tourism and serves as a platform for artists, sponsors, and merchandise.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary: World's oldest and one of the largest koala sanctuaries, located in Brisbane. Comparable as a koala-centric tourism and conservation attraction in Australia, with educational programs and merchandise that overlap Hello Koalas' conservation-and-collectible positioning.
Emerging players
- Brisbane Street Art Festival: Festival and ongoing public art program producing large-scale murals and sculpture installations across Brisbane. Comparable as a public art tourism driver and platform for local artists and sponsors — but more event-based and ephemeral than Hello Koalas' permanent trail.
- WildNets Adventure Park: Guulabaa precinct co-tenant offering adventure and wildlife activities. Comparable as a project partner and adjacent tourism operator in the same Cowarra State Forest destination, sharing the same catchment and audience.
Broad incumbents
- Taronga Zoo Sydney: Major Sydney wildlife zoo with conservation, education, and merchandise programs. Comparable as a large Australian wildlife-tourism operator with koala exhibits, school programs, and gift retail, though at institutional scale.
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Established Gold Coast wildlife sanctuary with strong koala encounter offering, educational programs, and merchandise. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the Australian wildlife-tourism and conservation-education space that Hello Koalas operates alongside.
- Featherdale Wildlife Park: Sydney-based wildlife park with native Australian animal encounters, school programs, and gift shop. Comparable as a regional wildlife-tourism operator with conservation messaging and merchandise sales similar to Hello Koalas' retail mix.
- Australia Zoo: Queensland-based major wildlife attraction and conservation brand. Comparable as a high-profile Australian wildlife-tourism and conservation entity, though at a vastly larger scale; serves as an upper-bound reference for koala-themed tourism potential.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail social profiles
Digital presenceHello Koalas Sculpture Trail financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail
What does Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail do?
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a free public art installation featuring 91+ hand-painted one-metre high koala sculptures distributed across Greater Port Macquarie and the Mid North Coast region of NSW, Australia. Each sculpture is uniquely designed by local Australian artists with environmental, wellbeing, heritage, and cultural themes. The trail operates as a free, self-guided tourist attraction complemented by a gift shop selling koala-themed merchandise, children's books, and collectible board games.
Is Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail a public or private company?
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail founded?
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail based?
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail is headquartered in Port Macquarie, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Gift Shop Sales are the primary driver. The others are children's Books, board Games and Collectibles and conservation Donations.
Who are Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Port Macquarie Koala Hospital & Koala Conservation Australia, Cowra Sculpture Trail, Sculpture by the Sea and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Emerging players are Brisbane Street Art Festival and WildNets Adventure Park. Broad incumbents are Taronga Zoo Sydney, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Featherdale Wildlife Park and Australia Zoo.
Does Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail.
What industry is Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail in?
Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail's product category is Public Art Tourism. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAK, Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions, with a secondary code of THAJAAAB, Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours. Its NAICS code is 7121.