Eliza (sculpture)

Eliza is a bronze sculpture located in Matilda Bay on the Swan River in Western Australia. The sculpture and plinth are mounted on a steel pylon 15 metres (49 ft) off the shoreline and depicts a woman about to dive off a wooden platform. It commemorates the old Crawley Baths which were a prominent Perth landmark during the early to mid 20th century. The sculpture is 2.2 metres (7 ft 3 in) high. The artwork has its own lighting from solar panels.

Eliza wearing a T-shirt

The public artwork was done by Perth artist Tony Jones on a commission from the City of Perth and had an estimated cost of $167,000.[1] Jones' other pieces include the C. Y. O'Connor statue near Coogee and Sea Queen at Claisebrook Cove.

Eliza was unveiled by Peter Nattrass, Perth Lord Mayor on 15 October 2007 and has since been regularly "dressed" in various costumes by students and other unknown pranksters.[2] Costumes have included a Santa Claus outfit (including beard) and a Melbourne Cup frock and champagne flute.

The sculpture is named after Mount Eliza; Mount Eliza was named by Captain James Stirling in honour of the wife of Governor Ralph Darling, an early Governor of New South Wales.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Crawley Baths Art Project: Application for Development approval" (PDF). 22 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  2. "There is something about Eliza". ABC News. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  3. "By Stream and Surf". Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885-1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 25 November 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 13 January 2011.

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