Winter Warm Up
A whimsical wordsearch in our city's places and spaces
May, 2026: as the weather cooled, things were getting warmer, getting warmer as we approached the relaunch of the Warrnambool Storytelling Festival. With the help of funding from Warrnambool City Council's Cheers to Ideas program, we set about collecting more than 100 pieces of original writing from novelists, poets, songwriters, playwrights, artists, essayists and other creatives connected to our region, in exchange for a $1000+ donation on their behalf to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
These tiny scrolls were rolled into vials and hidden in plain sight. Photo clues were on our socials every day of May, showing our literary treasures hidden in street planter boxes and bookshop shelves, by iconic signs and statues, along beach paths and walking trails, to be discovered and delighted in.
“Was absolutely delighted to stumble across this little treasure. Andrea’s “the town that grew me” prose evoked so many iconic images and experiences of W’bool. I wasn’t born here but over the past 19 years “This town, it grew me!”
- Delise, experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 2 by Andrea Rowe
Scroll 79 by Megan Nicolson
“What an amazing piece of art! I feel very lucky to have found this treasure and the special story behind it. I am looking forward to framing this beauty! Thank you.”
- Annie, 5 stars
Scroll 59 by Richard Walter
“Thoroughly enjoyed this treasure hunt as a family.”
- Travis, 5 stars
Scroll 57 by Ganga Powell
“Thank you for this gorgeous whimsical idea and poem!”
- Remy and Daisy, 5 stars
Hidden in plain sight
Scroll 24 by Jodie Fleming
Found by: Jack, Charlie and Tom
Location: Lake Pertobe BBQ Area
Comments: We had so much fun on our treasure hunt! Thank you!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 93 by Will King
Found by: Lori
Location: Hopkins River Ramp
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 11 by Anne Gleeson
Found by: Virginie
Location: WRAD mural
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 87 by Mandy Shute
Found by: Marianne
Location: Flume Carpark
Comments: Thank you. We love our fancy penguin!
Experience rating: 5 stars.
Scroll 77 by Des Bunyon
Found by: Virginie
Location: Sea Baths Mural
Comments: I love it. Just walked through the all town to find them...thank you
Experience rating: 5 stars.
Scroll 79 by Megan Nicolson
Found by: Annie
Location: Ngatanwarr Sign
Comments: What an amazing piece of art! I feel very lucky to have found this treasure and the special story behind it. I am looking forward to framing this beauty! Thank you
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 85 by David Higgins
Found by: Rosina
Location: Fletcher Jones Ivy House
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 59 by Richard Walter
Found by: Travis
Location: Liebig St Penguin's Scarf
Comments: Thoroughly enjoyed this treasure hunt as a family
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 9 by Meridith McKinnon
Found by: Lisa
Location: Golf Course
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 56 by Jeremy Lee
Found by: Kat
Location: Collins Booksellers
Comments: I love things like this and we definitely need to encourage people to read more. The arts are SO IMPORTANT to life and Warrnambool definitely punches above its weight with local talent 😁
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 78 by Mel Steffensen
Found by: Emily
Location: Street Library at Bob Scarborough Studio
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 7 by Caroline Healey
Found by: Michael
Location: East Entrance to Botanic Gardens
Comments: Thoroughly enjoyed this treasure hunt. Thanks to all involved
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 33 by Gus Franklin
Found by: Ramy
Location: Cannon Hill Path
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 117 by Inala Cooper
Found by: Virginie
Location: Shoe Repair shop
Comments: I love the idea of this festival! Thank you
Experience rating: 5 stars.
Scroll 66 by Bill Bateman
Found by: Lisa
Location: Promenade, near Surf Club
Comments: I enjoyed wondering what my little piece of poetry could be about all the way on my walk with our dog until I got home to open and read the prose
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 112 by Terri Redpath
Found by: Virginie
Location: Lake Pertobe Mural
Comments: Awesome idea I love it. Thank you
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 62 by Tanya Scott
Found by: Lisa
Location: Band Hall
Comments: It’s interesting to really look at some of the places in the hint pictures. I have no idea where some of the places are!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 97 by Kristy Roche
Found by: Kat
Location: In a tree outside Vida
Comments: What a gorgeous little artwork and quote by Kristy Roche 😍 Can't believe I've gotten so lucky with my finds. Much love and appreciation to all involved
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 107 by Bob Bowker
Found by: Lisa
Location: Heritage Pontings Shopfront
Comments: Top fun.
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 23 by Georgia Lillie
Found by: Lisa
Location: Edward's Bridge
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 57 by Ganga Powell
Found by: Remy and Daisy
Location: Kathryn Ryan Studio
Comments: Thank you for this gorgeous whimsical idea and poem!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 44 by Alecia Bellgrove
Found by: Emily
Location: Liebig St Planter Box
Comments: Thanks for the fun!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 26 by Gabby Steel
Found by: Anna
Location: Moyjil Path Entrance
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 58 by Leonie Needham
Found by: Joe
Location: Caroline Healey Studio
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 19 by Margaret Hickey
Found by: Lisa
Location: Rail Trail Fence
Comments: On my daily 11 km walks with my dog I find myself looking for messages in bottles. It’s fun!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 118 Pamela Marriott
Found by: Alicia
Location: Logan's Beach Ramp
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 2 by Andrea Rowe
Found by: Delise
Location: Temperance Hall
Comments: Was absolutely delighted to stumble across this little treasure. Andrea’s “the town that grew me” prose evoked so many iconic images and experiences of W’bool. I wasn’t born here but over the past 19 years “This town, it grew me!”
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 18 by Gareth Colliton
Found by: Jeremiah
Location: Japanese Gardens
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 41 by Chelsea Reis
Found by: Lisa
Location: Train Station
Comments: Such fun!
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 35 by Brydon Coverdale
Found by: Kat
Location: Jimmi Buscombe's Emu Mural
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 49 by Laura Bowman
Found by: Kat
Location: Breakwater
Comments: So surprised to find this one
Experience rating: 5 stars
Scroll 114 by Pam Swanborough
Found by: Lisa
Location: Deep Blue
Comments: I really love this idea
Experience rating: 5 stars
Want to get with our program?
Authors, performers, artists, venues, community groups, apply below!