The inside story of how South Australia’s first statue of Queen Elizabeth II almost didn’t happen

An acclaimed SA artist has created a new life-size sculpture of the Queen, to be installed in the heart of Adelaide. See it here and learn the fascinating back story.

Leading South Australian artist Robert Hannaford with a range of self-portraits spanning 50 years. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

South Australia’s first statue of Queen Elizabeth II – and only the third in the nation – is set to be installed in the grounds of Government House next month. But it almost didn’t happen.

“It hung in the balance for a while,” admits leading SA artist Robert Hannaford of his down-to-earth work of the Queen in approachable meet-and-greet mode.

The issue was that Mr Hannaford wanted a sitting with Her Majesty in order to sketch her for the life-size bronze. But, with an eye on the age of the monarch, now 94, the Palace was not keen.

Would a viewing from a distance at a garden party do the trick? Not for the Riverton artist who has painted prime ministers and increasingly turned a skilled hand to sculpture with works like the Sir Donald Bradman statue at Adelaide Oval.

“I politely said, ‘thanks, but no thanks’,” Mr Hannaford, who dislikes working from photos, recalled.

The statue is currently in storage ahead of its official installation.

Robert Hannaford’s statue of Queen Elizabeth II to be installed at Government House, Adelaide, in December 2020. Picture supplied by Robert Hannaford.

There was a lot at stake. Private donors had funded the project as a tribute to the long-reigning monarch, and the only other statues of her, both by SA’s John Dowie, were at Parliament House in Canberra and Government House in Brisbane dating from the 1980s.

That is when SA’s Agent-General in London, Bill Muirhead stepped up, asking Mr Hannaford for a book of his artworks, which was duly presented to the royals. They liked what they saw.

The result was an invitation for a 15-minute sitting at Windsor Castle. Mr Hannaford bought a plane ticket, borrowed a tie – and ended up with more than twice as long as he’d been allotted to sketch the Queen in a gold room off the Green Drawing Room.

He was even able to choose her dress from a choice of four. An avowed republican, the artist had no qualms about immortalising the monarch.

“I’ve always liked the Queen,” he said. “In that (republic) debate nobody said anything against the Queen. She’s been a wonderful head of state, and I think that’s probably why the debate was lost … I think most people thought we would be lucky to get someone as good as the Queen.”

Robert Hannaford’s sculpture of Sir Donald Bradman at Adelaide Oval.

In the end, the Queen spent more than 30 minutes sitting for SA artist Robert Hannaford at Windsor Castle. Picture: Tom Miletic

In fact, he admitted he was thrilled by the time and the willingness of the nonagenarian to stand and move for him so he could get a 360-degree perspective.

Mr Hannaford, who is forbidden by protocol discussing what was said between them, thought hard about how to depict her. While Queen Victoria in Victoria Square and Queen Adelaide in the Town Hall are set on high plinths, he wanted the current ruler to be approachable, not regal with a throne or crown.

“I wanted her to be on the ground, so she could be approached and not looked up at,” he said. “I wanted to depict her as she is usually seen and as she wants to be seen when she meets the public.”

The result is the Queen looking like she is on one of her meet-and-greets with the public, complete with hat, gloves and handbag. Set on a very low plinth, the monarch will be 5 per cent larger than her 157.5cm frame (5ft 2 ins) just to make her seem life-size.

Consideration was given to seeking to have the statue placed on North Terrace, but there were concerns about vandalism, at a time when statues around the world are being targeted for political reasons.

Instead it will be located on the southeast lawns of Government House outside the Morning Room, which the Queen used to receive the Governor-General and Prime Minister when she visited Adelaide in 2002.

With dual aspect and beautiful light, the room struck a chord with her and she remembered it

to state Governor Hieu Van Lee when they met in about 2016, calling it “the lovely room”.

Andrew Marshall, a spokesman for the group who funded the work, said while some of them were republicans the statue was in honour of an outstanding woman.

“There was no artistic (sculpture) representation of the Queen in Adelaide plus she’s the head of state,” he said of the reason the 20 donors got together. “I really think the Queen has done a magnificent job as a leader, as a woman, but whether you’re a monarchist or not … as a woman leader in the 20th-21st century she's peerless.”

Mr Marshall, managing director of construction firm Marshall & Brougham, declined to say how much the statue cost. It won’t be unveiled, but installed, in early-to-mid December.

One of Robert Hannaford’s initial sketches of the Queen.

The statue captures the Queen’s regal bearing.