Robe residents adamant about saving iconic obelisk at community meeting

New images reveal how the ground around Robe’s iconic landmark has slowly been eaten away over the decades – amid a fight to save it.

The obelisk is iconic to Robe as the Opera House is to Sydney, and must be saved or replicated at all costs, a public meeting has heard.

The coastal South Australian community has rallied to save their town’s iconic 169-year-old landmark from falling into the sea after the local council said it would cost too much to try to save.

A public meeting of more than 100 Robe locals last week heard it would cost about $1.5m to build a replica of the town’s 12m-tall obelisk, which will plunge into the ocean because of erosion around the cliffs where it was built.

The meeting was called after an outcry over Robe council’s decision not to fund an investigation into either preserving or relocating the monument, which was installed on the cliffs to guide ships in 1855 and has since become one of the region’s most iconic landmarks.

The Robe coast line and the obelisk.

The Robe obelisk will eventually fall into the sea, but locals are demand their council either save, preserve or memorialise it. Picture: Getty Images

Locals have suggested relocating the obelisk using a crane, taking apart and reconstructing the original structure, demolishing it and using salvaged materials to build a replica – or building a new replica completely – and even using a hologram.

Council CEO Nat Traeger said preserving the obelisk at its original location would align best with heritage practices, but relocation was preferred due to safety concerns arising from erosion and structural instability.

However, she said moving the obelisk inland wasn’t possible because of limited access and risk of structural collapse during relocation. She said a replica was the “best feasible outcome” but could cost up to $1.5m.

Local builder Casey Sharpe said he believed relocating the obelisk was logistically possible and would be “significantly” more cost-effective than a $1.5m replica.

He said cranes could be used from a safe distance to help dismantle and relocate the structure.

“It could be done, I’m not saying it will be easy, but it definitely should be considered,” Mr Sharpe said.

He said relocating and “saving” the original obelisk could unite the community, and provide a sense of accomplishment once it was done.

The Robe coastline and obelisk.

Another speaker, Peter Westley, said while he believes the obelisk “can’t be relocated” due to costs, it should be replicated.

Mr Westley said there was room by the original site where a platform could be built to house a replica.

“The obelisk is to Robe what the Sydney Opera House is to Sydney,” he said. “To see it disappear into the sea and leave nothing but an empty space on the cliffs is not something that locals and tourists are going to accept.”

Mr Westley suggested ratepayers could make a voluntary contribution towards saving the obelisk – such as an additional $20 a year – and if they knew it would go towards an obelisk replica, council would find an “enormous uptake” of contributors.

Following the meeting, Mayor Ruffell said the council would review the community’s feedback this week in regards to what to do about the obelisk.

Over its 169 years, the obelisk has become one of Robe’s most popular tourist attractions, a symbol of the town’s maritime history, and a cherished part of the community’s identity.

Due to coastal erosion, the obelisk will fall into the sea during the next 20-100 years according to experts.

Last month, it was revealed the council was taking a “pragmatic approach” to the future of the obelisk, resigning to let it fall into the sea when the time comes.

This decision received fierce backlash from the local community, prompting Robe Mayor, Lisa Ruffell, to call last week’s public meeting.