Debate over ‘hideous’ Dame Edna Everage statue

A statue of Dame Edna – described as “hideous” by Barry Humphries himself – will remain in storage unless his family give its blessing for it to be erected in Moonee Ponds.

A statue of Dame Edna which late comedian Barry Humphries described as “hideous” will remain locked away in storage unless his family gives permission for it to be put back on public display.

Since Humphries died last month, aged 89, there have been calls to erect a permanent tribute to him at Moonee Ponds, a suburb his most famous character, Dame Edna, made famous.

A heavily-criticised bronze state of Dame Edna, which was on display at a little-visited area of the Docklands is unlikely to be taken out of storage.

The statue of Dame Edna Everage.

The garish, life-size statue was on display from 2009, until it was put in a warehouse in 2016, to make way for a high-rise apartment block.

Humphries in 2016 praised the decision to take the statue off public display.

“I am told … it has been removed and impounded in a warehouse,” Humphries said.

“It is the one act by Melbourne developers which I applaud.”

It has been gathering dust at an outer Melbourne government warehouse ever since.

Among those pushing for a statue commemorating Humphries’s legacy is former opposition leader and member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten.

Artist Peter Corlett with his statue of Dame Edna Everage.

Development Victoria’s Niall Cunningham said a decision on whether the controversial statue would see the light of day hinged on the wishes of Humphries’s family.

“We are aware of the community interest in a statute commemorating Barry Humphries,” Mr Cunningham said.

“No decision will be made on potential options to relocate the Dame Edna Everage statue without prior consultation with the family of Barry Humphries.”

Also under lock and key are statues of Kylie Minogue, John Farnham and Graham Kennedy.

“The bronze statues by Peter Corlett, including that of Dame Edna Everage, were removed from NewQuay in Docklands as part of ongoing development in the precinct,” Mr Cunningham said.

“The statues remain safely in storage.”