Eliza (sculpture)
Encyclopedia
Eliza is a bronze sculpture located in Matilda Bay
on the Swan River
in Western Australia
. The sculpture and plinth are mounted on a steel pylon 15 metres off the shoreline and depicts a woman about to dive off a wooden platform. It commemorates the old Crawley Baths which were a prominent Perth
landmark during the early to mid 20th century. The sculpture is 2.2 metres high. The artwork has its own lighting from solar panels.
The public artwork was done by Perth artist Tony Jones on a commission from the City of Perth
and had an estimated cost of $167,000. Jones' other pieces include the C.Y. O'Connor statue near Coogee
and Sea Queen at Claisebrook
.
Eliza was unveiled by Peter Nattrass
, Perth Lord Mayor on 15 October 2007 and has since been regularly "dressed" in various costumes by students and other unknown pranksters. Costumes have included a Santa Claus
outfit (including beard), a Melbourne Cup
frock and champagne flute and a Scotch College
uniform.
The sculpture is named after Mount Eliza which was so called after the wife of Governor Ralph Darling
, an early Governor of New South Wales. The name was given by Captain James Stirling
.
Matilda Bay
Matilda Bay is a natural bay in the Swan River in Western Australia, adjacent to the Perth suburb of Crawley. It extends from Pelican Point to Mounts Bay Road below Kings Park....
on the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The sculpture and plinth are mounted on a steel pylon 15 metres off the shoreline and depicts a woman about to dive off a wooden platform. It commemorates the old Crawley Baths which were a prominent Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
landmark during the early to mid 20th century. The sculpture is 2.2 metres high. The artwork has its own lighting from solar panels.
The public artwork was done by Perth artist Tony Jones on a commission from the City of Perth
City of Perth
The City of Perth is a local government area and body, within the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is the capital of Western Australia. The local government body is commonly known as Perth City Council. The city covers the Perth central business district and surrounding suburbs...
and had an estimated cost of $167,000. Jones' other pieces include the C.Y. O'Connor statue near Coogee
Coogee, Western Australia
Coogee is a southern coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Cockburn.-History:The suburb takes its name from the lake, Lake Coogee, in the area, which translates to "Body of water" in the native Aboriginal Nyoongar language. Originally this lake was named Lake...
and Sea Queen at Claisebrook
Claisebrook
Claisebrook is an area in the CBD of Perth, Western Australia, and may refer to:*The Claisebrook Train Station, Perth, or*The railway depot for maintaining Perth's electric trains....
.
Eliza was unveiled by Peter Nattrass
Peter Nattrass
Peter Christopher Roland Nattrass is a Perth businessman and politician who was the Lord Mayor of the Perth City Council from 1995 to 2007 having succeeded Reg Withers. He was elected to the council in 1977. He was re-elected Lord Mayor in 1999 and again in 2003...
, Perth Lord Mayor on 15 October 2007 and has since been regularly "dressed" in various costumes by students and other unknown pranksters. Costumes have included a Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
outfit (including beard), a Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
frock and champagne flute and a Scotch College
Scotch College, Perth
Scotch College , is one of Australia's leading independent schools for boys, situated in Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia. The school is a member of the Public Schools Association and is now a Uniting Church school, although it was founded in 1897 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia...
uniform.
The sculpture is named after Mount Eliza which was so called after the wife of Governor Ralph Darling
Ralph Darling
General Sir Ralph Darling, GCH was a British colonial Governor and Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831.-Early career:...
, an early Governor of New South Wales. The name was given by Captain James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
.