"The national capital has ironically been described as ‘a good sheep paddock spoiled’ and this sculpture is a satirical salute to one of Canberra’s early pastoralists – James Ainslie. In 1825, Ainslie arrived with 700 sheep to establish Duntroon Station which originally encompassed Reid, Campbell, Mount Ainslie, Glebe Park, and the Royal Military College. Ainslie returned to Scotland in 1835, leaving a flock of 20,000.
The embroidered waistcoat on the chair arm refers to Ainslie’s flamboyant dress sense, and to an incident when his clothes were stolen by bushrangers and retrieved his favourite waistcoat."
Oh, now I understand.
This is The Big Merino at Goulburn, a couple hours north of Canberra. It has its own gift shop. It's also anatomically correct. I would think that part would have seemed a little weird for the guy that had to shape the concrete. He must really love his work.
Then there was the worm factory...
I didn't take them up on the invitation although I wanted to - wonder what the gift shop is like?
These guys were "street entertainment" at the
2010 National Folk Festival in Canberra (Debbie was a volunteer).
They could even jump on those legs.
Once again, I am struck by the desire for anatomical correctness.
Here's another guy(s) at the festival.
The guy in the dog suit would roll on his back and
was able to, uh...urinate.
Then there is the dog statue at Eaglehawke Neck in Tasmania. The main penitentiary, Port Arthur, was on a long peninsula with a narrow "neck" that any escaping convicts had to pass through (unless they were in the warden's stolen whaleboat, which happened). So, the Brits put a "dogline" of chained, vicious dogs across the neck with armed guards at a nearby post. They have commemorated that signal achievement with a statue of a dog. I just felt sorry for the dogs.
A face only a mother could love.
I started having flashbacks
as I realized this reminded me of
Sergeant Instructor (Gunnery Sergeant) Plumb
from my Officer Candidate School Days.
That guy hated me.
This is in Strahan on the western coast of
Tasmania - this guy had a wood shop and took an
old branch and turned it into a giant kangaroo.
This big kewpie doll is a leftover from the
2000 Sydney Olympics opening number.
Apparently there were a lot of these dancing around in circles. I have no idea why. It now lives outside an antiqueshop in Bungendore (that is really the name) about 30 minutes east of Canberra.
Yup - nothing's wasted.
Now I know what you're thinking. But this is actually
a sculpture entitled "Reconciliation."
And it has little holes all over it and it makes whispering and humming noises. Really.
Then again maybe there's a very large animal wandering around Canberra.
Oh, I almost forgot. It's right in front of...the National Library of Australia.
And here is...the Kennedy Center. No, actually it's the National Library of Australia. Either both buildings had the same architect or it's literally the biggest case of plagiarism in history. It even sits on water and has a bridge in front of it, just like the Kennedy Center.
I mean, really - who knew? Note the footwear.
