Painting of Wally the galah, stolen from Lyell McEwin Hospital, found and returned safely

Where was Wally? Now we know – the mystery of the brazen art heist at an Adelaide hospital is solved.

The 'Wally the Galah' painting that was taken from Lyell McEwin Hospital. Picture: Supplied

He’s back!

The painting of Wally the galah, stolen from Lyell McEwin Hospital just days after Christmas, has been found by police – and is back home, safe.

The framed, 1.2m-high painting – taken by a man wearing high vis in a brazen theft on December 28 – was found outside a funeral home in Elizabeth, wrapped carefully.

Lyell McEwin cardiology staff are overjoyed at the return of Wally the galah.

The painting appears to be undamaged.

SAPOL said the painting had been found inside an Elizabeth North business by a member of the public, and returned to the hospital on Friday morning.

A 38-year-old Salisbury Heights man was reported over the theft on January 2.

The painting was bought by the cardiology team from The Hospital Research Foundation in 2022 for the unit’s waiting room, and the theft had devastated theft.

But they’re now overjoyed at his return.

Artist Kelly Batsiokis said she was over moon Wally was recovered in one piece and back home where he belonged.

“Thank you to whoever handed him in,” she said.

Ms Batsiokis previously said the painting was not cheap, and the purchase was “an incredibly generous gesture for the staff and patients”.

Ms Batsiokis – who recently moved from Adelaide to Brisbane – said she was stunned by the “audacity” of the theft, and the painting had likely been bolted into the wall, making it quite difficult to steal.

The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Director of Cardiology, Associate Professor Margaret Arstall said the theft of ‘Wally the Galah’ had upset cardiology staff.

“It made the waiting room in the Lyell McEwin Hospital a beautiful and stress-reducing place to be,” she said.

The Salisbury Heights man will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court at a later date.

You can visit Ms Batsiokis’ website here.

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