Berlin-based photographer Helin Bereket has turned her camera away from Australia's famous beaches and cityscapes to capture a different side of the continent. Her latest photography series, "Abandoned Australia," documents the haunting beauty of forgotten towns and decaying buildings scattered across rural Victoria and South Australia. These locations exist in a liminal space between past and present, still alive but barely breathing.
The project began unexpectedly in March 2025 when Bereket traveled to Australia to photograph silo art – large-scale murals painted on grain silos designed to attract tourism to struggling rural communities. However, upon arriving at her first destination, something else caught her attention. "I never set out to photograph abandoned places in Australia," Bereket explains. "Initially, I was heading to photograph examples of silo art, which had piqued my interest. But when I arrived in the first town featuring silo art, I was struck by something else. A number of buildings that had clearly been left to decay. The contrast between the vibrant art and these abandoned structures sparked something in me. Despite the town's stillness, it had life. That's how my exploration of abandoned places began."
This chance discovery demonstrates an important principle for creative professionals: remaining open to unexpected directions. Bereket's willingness to abandon her original plan resulted in work that feels more honest and emotionally powerful than any predetermined concept might have achieved. Her background in architecture and master's degree in art inform her approach to these forgotten spaces, with each frame capturing not just physical decay, but the emotional weight of places that once thrived.
The photographer's subjects include weather-worn gas stations, shuttered motels, and empty pubs that serve as silent witnesses to economic shifts, environmental challenges, and the urban migration that has drained life from Australia's rural towns. "It was definitely a jarring experience," Bereket reflects on encountering this reality. "I came with preconceived notions, based on what I had seen online: beautiful beaches, surfers and kangaroos. What I encountered, however, was far more layered and complex. I knew little about Australia's history, and when I started to see the remnants of past towns, abandoned buildings and the quiet, desolate landscapes, I felt a sense of revelation. It was a reminder of how much of a place's true identity is often hidden beneath the surface, beyond the postcard-perfect images."
This discovery highlights an important lesson for visual storytellers: the most compelling stories often exist beyond mainstream representation. While travel photography typically focuses on a destination's highlights, Bereket found deeper meaning in its shadows. Her working method is refreshingly simple, relying on instinct and observation rather than extensive planning or research. "For the most part, it's been a mix of chance and serendipity," she says about choosing subjects. "A lot of the abandoned buildings I've come across were in towns I originally visited for silo art or just happened to pass through."
Bereket is careful with her language around these places, deliberately avoiding terms like "ghost town" that suggest complete abandonment. "The term 'ghost town' usually implies a place that is completely abandoned, devoid of life," she explains. "However, what I've encountered in Australia is often far more complex. Many of these towns are far from empty. They may be quiet, but there are still people living there, albeit sparsely." This nuanced understanding reflects her respect for the communities that continue to call these places home.
Her approach emphasizes observation over intervention. "My approach is largely observational," she continues. "There weren't many people around in the towns I visited. For me, the beauty lies in their quiet solitude. I prefer to observe and let the environment tell its own story, rather than imposing anything on it." This restraint – allowing subjects to speak for themselves rather than forcing a narrative – demonstrates confidence in the photographic medium itself and serves as a reminder that powerful creative work doesn't always require heavy intervention or obvious concepts.
"Abandoned Australia" connects to themes Bereket has explored in previous projects, including "ARID," which was photographed in Wonder Valley, California. This consistency suggests an artist following genuine interests rather than market demands, an approach that often leads to more distinctive and lasting work. "I don't aim to provoke a specific emotion," she notes. "My goal is to spark curiosity. I want viewers to ask questions: What happened here? Why is this place in such a state? What's the story behind it?"
For creative professionals, this philosophy offers an alternative to work designed primarily for immediate impact or viral success. Instead, Bereket's work creates space for thought and discovery, qualities increasingly rare in today's attention-hungry economy. The series challenges Australia's tourism-friendly image while revealing universal themes of change, resilience, and the passage of time.
These forgotten towns, suspended between past and present, offer rich material for contemplating what society chooses to preserve and what it allows to fade. In an industry obsessed with the new and the next, "Abandoned Australia" argues for the value of looking closer at what's already there. By doing so, viewers can find extraordinary stories in ordinary decay and discover real beauty in places the world has largely forgotten.
