The aura of Central Queensland’s Neerkol orphanage has moved two emerging Rockhampton artists to capture the emotions of the former residents in a contemporary art exhibition to be launched this evening.

The exhibition titled St Joseph’s Home, Neerkol, by Sunny Waldron and Julie Barratt, has been curated by CQU Art Collection Curator Deann Campbell in CQU’s Ron Smyth Building, 240 Quay Street, Rockhampton.

The artists believe the exhibition to be important both historically and socially with the series of contemporary ‘works on paper’ their tribute to all who lived there.

During a visit to the now abandoned Neerkol site, the artists experienced feelings of loneliness and desolation coming from the site.

“We were moved by the aura of the place and knew that this would be our new project,” Ms Waldron explained.

Ms Barratt said she felt compelled to “release the spirits from within the walls of Neerkol and set free the memories and secrets that whisper in the crumbling buildings”.

“We wanted to give a voice to the extraordinary lives lived within the orphanage between 1885 and 1978,” Ms Barratt said.

Neerkol was a significant part of Central Queensland history. The orphanage housed up to 500 people at any one time including the workers who ran its cattle property, the nuns, the father and the children.

On display at the exhibition will be artworks using printmaking techniques along with a special collection of paintings by Sister Victorina Sant of the Sisters of Mercy, Rockampton.

The exhibition will be officially opened on tonight and will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm until January.

The exhibition has been made possible with the support from a RADF Grant, Central Queensland University, Central Queensland Institute of TAFE art department, Record Printing and all the people who shared their stories.