Mount Gambier Council to vote on $130,000 ‘bold’ megafauna-inspired CBD artwork

Inspired by the megafauna that once roamed Australia, an SA council will vote on spending $130,000 on an “ambitious” public artwork for its CBD.

The proposed concept of the "bold and ambitious" piece designed to give Mount Gambier its own "iconic" artwork in the city's CBD. Picture: City of Mount Gambier/Huna Studios

A “bold and ambitious” sculpture inspired by the megafauna that once roamed Australia is designed to give SA’s second-largest city its own “iconic” CBD artwork.

Mount Gambier Council will on Tuesday discuss spending $136,250 for the blue sculpture to be installed under its Beacon Art Project, which aims to activate the CBD.

The proposed artwork in is of a large, blue, mythical creature inspired by the marsupial megafauna that roamed the region thousands of years ago.

The artists behind the piece, Huna Studios, said the creature was designed to emulate a being that had emerged from the depths of one of Mount Gambier’s many caves or sinkholes before embarking on a journey through the city streets.

If approved, the piece is slated to be located on Commercial Street East, outside the Riddoch Arts & Culture Centre, or near the Cave Gardens in the CBD.

How the "bold and ambitious" piece would look on the streets of Mount Gambier. Picture: City of Mount Gambier/Huna Studios.

How the artwork would look at the Cave Gardens. Picture: City of Mount Gambier/Huna Studios.

On Tuesday night, the council will considering allocating $120,179 to Huna Studios to design, fabricate, transport and install their work and a further $17,271 for site preparation and other costs.

The report warned Huna Studio’s proposed design could be both celebrated and criticised – to be expected for a bold and significant public art project.

The report references both two Rundle Mall artworks – the Pigeon and the bronze pigs – as similar artworks that were initially questioned or shunned before becoming local icons.

The report said measures would be put in place to minimise and discourage potential damage.

The Beacon Art Project aims to use public artwork to activate the CBD, while supporting community connection, placemaking and tourism opportunities. The initial budget for the project was slated at around $80,000.

Originally published as Mount Gambier Council to vote on $130,000 ‘bold’ megafauna-inspired CBD artwork