Big Beetle Summer: Help Create the Christmas Beetles!
From plastic waste to public art - Collect, Discover, Make, Count!
Big Beetle Summer is a community-led public art project celebrating one of Australia’s most iconic native insects, the Christmas Beetle.
Artist Amy Claire Mills, in collaboration with artists, scientists and sustainability experts, is transforming recycled community plastics into 10 giant Christmas Beetle sculptures, which will be hidden throughout Ted Mack Civic Park on Cammeraygal Country, North Sydney, from December to February.
Help Us Create the Beetles!
The Christmas Beetles start with your recycled plastics!
The project aims to collect 100kg of rigid HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic, which will be recycled by Sydney-based sustainability specialists Defy Design and transformed into the giant beetle sculptures.
North Sydney Community Centre is proud to be a collection point for the project!
You can drop your eligible plastics into the special Christmas Beetle collection bin at our Centre.
What plastics can you donate?
We need rigid HDPE plastics marked with the recycling symbol #2.
Examples include suitable plastic containers and some bottle lids. Please check the recycling symbol on the bottom of your item, as not all plastics are suitable.
Unfortunately, plastics without a recycling code cannot be accepted.
How to donate your plastics
- Remove any labels or stickers.
- Wash your plastics with soapy water.
- Make sure they are completely dry.
- Bring them to North Sydney Community Centre and look for the special Christmas Beetle collection bin!
Discover the Beetler
The Christmas Beetle installation will launch at Northside Produce Market on Saturday 5 December, with workshops led by artists and scientists, giving everyone the chance to get involved and celebrate this iconic Aussie beetle!
Why Christmas Beetles?
For many Australians, Christmas Beetles are a much-loved symbol of summer, bringing memories of childhood, warm evenings and time spent outdoors.
They are known for their beautiful, shimmering colours and their appearance around December and January. However, Christmas Beetles are becoming increasingly difficult to find as natural habitats disappear and our cities grow.
The Christmas Beetle Count, launched by Tanya Latty and Invertebrates Australia in 2022, helps researchers understand where Christmas Beetles are found and how their populations are changing.
Every sighting can contribute valuable information to research and conservation.
Become a Citizen Scientist
You can also take part in the Christmas Beetle Count using iNaturalist.
It's easy:
- Download the iNaturalist app
- Find a bug!
- Take photos of it
- Upload your observations
You don't need to be an expert, every observation can help researchers learn more about Australia's beetles.
Meet the Beetle Hub
The Beetle Hub will pop up with free workshops and activities exploring the world of Christmas Beetles at Northside Produce Market launching on Saturday 5 December.
The program will bring together artists, scientists and sustainability experts, including Amy Claire Mills, Wiradjuri artist Bria McCarthy, Christmas Beetle scientist Tanya Latty and Defy Design.
Visitors can learn about Christmas Beetles, sustainability and simple ways to help protect these iconic native insects.
Big Beetle Summer is about bringing the community together through art, sustainability, science and curiosity.
Start by bringing your eligible plastic waste to North Sydney Community Centre and help turn everyday plastic into something extraordinary!
Let's create the Christmas Beetles together!
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