An email came through our office yesterday, it read: “Given the recent dry weather, Kippax Lake water level is extremely low. Until further advised the Kippax Fountain should not to be activated”. Which fountain is that, I hear you ask? The Kippax Lake Sculpture and Fountain in Moore Park.

You’ve probably seen it while walking across Moore Park to attend a game at the SCG and Allianz Stadium, and you’ve probably wondered what it represents.

The sculpture and fountain in Kippax Lake

So, what actually is the sculpture?

The Kippax Lake sculpture and fountain was designed by Diana Hunt and installed in 1967. It represents a sportswoman and was dedicated to the achievements of Australian sportswomen. It is made of metal with a concrete base.

The Monuments Australia website provides a curious reference to its origins:

In November 1964 the [Sydney City] Council gave approval for a public competition, under conditions laid down by the Sydney Fountains Committee, to obtain a design for a figurine to recognise the achievements of Australian sportswomen over the years. The adjudicators selected a design submitted by Stephen Walker, however the Council thought this did not convey the desired spirit and instead a design by Miss Diana Hunt was erected.

Wonder what the first design was? There was no further explanation.

Back to now…

Kippax Lake is one of 11 ponds in Centennial Parklands, 10 of which (including Kippax Lake) are fed by stormwater run-off from the surrounding catchment areas.

Due to low recent rainfall, this is how Kippax Lake looked yesterday

When water levels drop, water no longer covers the inlet valves of the fountain. Hence we need to turn the fountain off during these times.

And what does the fountain look like when it’s “going off”?

The fountain having a good spray

So there you go. Another obscure Centennial Parklands feature in Moore Park explained this week!

- posted by Craig Easdown

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Ever wondered what the meaning or history of a statue, building, monument or other feature in the Parklands is? Just ask us!

Centennial Park has been watched over since the 1890s – watched by a protective and ancient set of eyes. In fact, two sets of eyes. These protective presences are part of a tradition that dates back several millienia. These presences are two fantastic sculptures that you may have walked past many times without stopping. Hopefully next time you might pause and take a closer look.

One of the Griffins, in place since the 1890s

Two griffin sculptures were originally installed on Parkes Drive in the 1890s, at the junction of Hamilton Drive near the statue of Sir Henry Parkes.

The griffins guarded each side of the main entry road leading down from Paddington Gates.

They were originally manufactured by Villeroy and Boch and made of ceramic. They sat on the same sandstone plinths they sit on today.

By 1946 the griffins were in poor condition. Each sculpture was missing detail including the head, wings and feet. The surface coating of the sculptures and the mouldings on the top coping stones of the plinths had also eroded.

In 1971 the griffins were removed for safekeeping to the Centennial Parklands Depot.

Firstly, what is a Griffin?

The Griffin, according to Encyclopaedia Mythica, is a legendary creature with the head, beak and wings of an eagle, the body of a lion and occasionally the tail of a serpent or scorpion.

Its origin lies somewhere in the Middle East where it is found in the paintings and sculptures of the ancient Babylonians, Assyrians and Persians.

The later Romans used them for decoration and even in Christian times the Griffin motif often appears. Griffins were frequently used as gargoyles on medieval churches and buildings.

Griffins are usually heroic symbols. They are well known for their speed, ability to fly and having eyes like an eagle, as well as the strength and courage of a lion (there’s even more information about Griffins here if you’re interested).

But Centennial Park’s Griffins don’t have eagle heads!?!

True. Although referred to as griffins, winged lions such as the ones seen in Centennial Park are not true griffins but a hybrid known as a ‘gryphonic’. True griffins have the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.

So, what happened to the Griffins in Centennial Park after 1971?

The Griffins sat in the Centennial Park Depot for around 30 years. Then in December 2004, an opportunity arose to work with a consortium of organisations to fully restore and return the Griffins to Centennial Park (this consortia included the then Department of Commerce, Government Architects Office, Heritage Services, Maxim Consulting and Millennium Art Services).

The Griffins, pre-restoration, are moved to the Government Stoneyard

The modelling of the missing portions of the griffins was carried out on the existing griffins—allowing for complete accuracy. The modelling was guided by the catalogue supplied by Villeroy and Boch in Germany.

Once completed, the mould making process began. The missing elements were modelled in clay then coated with silicon rubber between 6-8mm thick. Once the rubber was cured, castings were made of a micro-ceramic composite material. 16mm stainless steel rods were set into the wings and head for reinforcement.

One of the Griffins in the stoneyard awaiting restoration

Returned to Centennial Park

One of the Griffins lowered into place

On Thursday 7 April 2005, a small ceremony was held to mark the return of the Griffins to Centennial Park.

The Griffins were lifted off the back of a truck and lowered onto the original plinths that they had stood in since the 1890s.

The then NSW Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, the Hon Sandra Nori MP, said the return of the two statues marked a great day in the history of Centennial Parklands.

“To see the return of these lovingly-restored creatures gives a sense of the Parklands as they looked many years ago,” Ms Nori said.

“These two magnificent creatures will once again guard the statue of Sir Henry Parkes as diligently as they guarded their gold in ancient mythology.”

The Griffins today

We have since installed uplighting of the Griffins which park visitors may enjoy if they are walking by at dusk most evenings.

The Griffins today stand either side of Parkes Drive in Centennial Park, flanking the statue of Sir Henry Parkes.

The Griffins are two of Centennial Park’s great statues. Which statue in Centennial Park is your favourite?

Griffin statue standing near Sir Henry Parkes statue – photo by Phil Quirk

Close details of the Griffin wing – photo by Suzanne Peri-Chapman

The Griffin today – photo by Phil Quirk

How our blog started

No, not a contender for Photo of the Week – just the moment our blog began. In fact, it’s how all blog posts start – with a blank screen! Over the last three months we’ve covered a lot of topics, and along the way we hope we’ve answered some of your questions or conundrums.

This week we’re going to do a quick wrap of 20 questions answered by this blog to date:

1. How did “Brazilian Fields” in Centennial Park get its name?
2. Where is the most artistic fence in Centennial Park?
3. Did the stonemason behind Paddington Gates autograph his work?
4. Who’s climbing our trees for a good cause?
5. Can trees turn bad?
6. Where’s our William gone?
7. Did I see an elephant in Centennial Park?
8. Do you remember when INXS rocked Centennial Park?
9. Did I see camels and lions in Moore Park?
10. Who turned the Park pink?
11. What went cuckoo in Centennial Park?
12. Is there a crocodile in Centennial Park?
13. How many birds can one nest carry?
14. Can spending time outside improve eyesight?
15. What can you do with kids on rainy days in Sydney?
16. What’s the most satirical statue in Centennial Park?
17. What edifice was nearly built in Centennial Park?
18. Can adults have a playground?
19. What is the favourite bird of the Centennial Parklands staff?
20. Have you seen a smurf in Centennial Park?

Have a question of your own about Centennial Parklands? Let us know (below, by Facebook or by Twitter) and we’ll do our best to research and answer it in future blogs!

Undoubtedly one of the best, most creative and most misunderstood statues in Centennial Park is the fantastic ‘We Won’ statue. Standing high on the bank above Centennial Parklands Dining, We Won is nineteenth-century satire at its best.

We Won - The Statue in Centennial Park

The statue stands on what is called ‘Cannon Triangle’ and is flanked either side by two Crimean War cannons. In this setting, the statue looks like a classic European-style militaritic homage…but when you look a little closer…

A little bit of background

The sculpture is the work of Tommaso Sani who was well-known in Sydney in the 1880s.

Most of Sani’s work was commissioned as embellishment for public buildings. Most notable of his work is found in the Pitt Street façade of the General Post Office, Sydney which was controversial at the time as its carvings which depicted working class figures – not the usual choice of subject matter for important buildings – met with opposition.

A little bit about the statue

‘We Won’ is also known as ‘The Footballer’. Graeme Sturgeon in his book: The Development of Australian Sculpture, 1788-1975 describes ‘We Won’ as one of Sani’s most important works. He writes:

“The life-sized figure, dressed in a woollen cap, sweater and tight knee-length trousers worn by football players of the day contrasts with the serene and idealised Neoclassical face of Apollo.”

“The figure stands upon a cylindrical pedestal which is decorated with high relief panels, the whole standing on a granite base atop a series of steps which are in turn surrounded by a chain held up by eight small seated lions.”

“The bronze pedestal shows eight scenes of a match in progress, played, not as might be expected by muscular men, but by hordes of tiny putti.”

To drive home the satirical point further, the scenes of the match are separated by four large female cherubs, each adding in various ways to the mock dignity of the occasion.

Trumpeting the beginning of the match

The first is enthusiastically trumpeting the beginning of the match, the second recording the score, the next inviting attention of the spectator and the last standing victoriously with the lion-skin of Hercules cast around her head and shoulders.

A little bit more about Sani

Sani was a Florentine sculptor who trained as a sculptor’s pointing assistant and migrated to Melbourne in the late 1870s. Later he made his home in Leichhardt.

He was part of a small but influential set of Italian artists which included painters Giulio Anivitti and Giuseppe Ferrarini and interior designer Augusto Lorenzini all of whom brought their classical traditions to their Australian work.

Sani was known for his naturalistic style and his satirical approach which contrasted with the classical approach of his contemporaries.

Below are a series of more detailed photos of the features of the We Won Statue. See if you can spot the sports journalist!

Various detailed features of We Won Statue

What do you think of the We Won statue?  What’s your favourite statue in Centennial Park?