IT’S nice to know Geelong’s headless monarch is about to be re-ensconced in the CBD’s waterfront precinct.
Old Edward VII, whose regal statue once graced “Fairneys Fort”, site of the present-day mini-harbour beside the waterfront’s carousel, is returning – with a new head.
The exercise has been stumped up by City Hall and Frank Costa, at a total cost of around $50,000 and will see ERVII located at the corner of Moorabool and Brougham streets, within the Sailors Rest precinct which was named for him.
Poor Ed lost his noggin when he was removed to make way for what was at the time a rather controversial expansion of Corio Bay, the mini-harbour between Cunningham Pier and the carousel.
His statuesque frame sat forlorn in the council depot at Belmont for yonks after being decapitated by some heartless souvenir hunter.
Despite repeated public pleas down the years, the culprit failed to come forward – fostering speculation as to the fate and location of Ed’s head.
In more recent times, however, the statue has been cleaned up, restored and re-headed in marble from its original quarry in Italy.
City heritage councillor Tony Ansett professed to be “rapt” about King Edward’s return to the CBD. He has a lengthy list of heritage items he wants restored and returned to their rightful place in Geelong’s heritage pantheon.
One unknown at this point about the new improved model is whether it might have that special Winston Churchill feature to keep it clean.
Old Winnie’s statue in London’s Parliament Square has a slight electrical current running through it to deter birds from perching on and leaving deposits on his head.
Might come in handy against the drunks staggering about town at night too.
— NOEL MURPHY
