1999: Relocation of the Sir William Dobell Memorial Sculpture

Photo taken by the Author (2025)

The Sir William Dobell Memorial Sculpture was installed in Martin Place in 1979. In 1996, as part of upgrades of Martin Place, the 19-metre-tall sculpture was dismantled and stored at the Sydney City Council depot in Harris Street, Ultimo.

In May 1999, Sydney City Council voted to reassemble the statue as part of a traffic island to be built at the corner of Pitt and Spring Street. It was recommissioned in October 1999. 

In 2021, Sydney City Council approved the permanent closure of Spring Street for traffic entering from Pitt Street, creating a small plaza or square. However, no work has been undertaken to level the footpath.

Source: Skelsey, M. 1999. "Shish kebab to rise again". The Daily Telegraph, May 17: 16.

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Welcome to Sydney sign (2001)

This is the last entry in our current series. Balmain Artist Michael Snape created a sign in 1999 using a 30-metre prototype electricity cable carrier imported from Germany which the word "Sydney" running down its sign. South Sydney Council rejected a proposal to erect it at Sydney Park in St Peters, but Campbelltown Council voted to investigate buying and erecting the sign on a hill near the Mt Annan Botanic Garden. 

It was never built and represents a lost opportunity to have an artwork or structure to greet those driving into Sydney from the Hume Motorway. Do you think it should have been built?

Source: Skelsey, M. "Towering icon will show the way to Sydney". The Daily Telegraph, March 27:11.