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IslayPrint Page 
A 60 centimetre bronze statue of a Queen Victoria's favourite pet, a Cairn terrier named Islay. The statue is propped up on a sandstone wishing well outside the Queen Victoria Building, George St, Sydney.
Islay was Queen Victoria’s much loved companion for only 5 years because he became involved in a dispute with a cat and it was Islay that died. Queen Victoria recorded: `My faithful little companion of more than five years, always with me’ ( Source: The Spectator, April 15, 2000 by Johnson, Paul).
Location
| Address: | Druitt & George Streets , Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, 2000 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -33.872647 Long: 151.206642 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Animals |
| Monument Designer: | Justin Robson |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | 1987 |
|---|
The Legend of Islay
Islay was a favourite pet of Queen Victoria. Whenever he saw the royal mistress he would sit up and beg for a biscuit. He was often sketched and painted both by Queen Victoria and Sir Edwin Landseer, her painting master. The bronze sculpture by Justin Robson was modelled from a sketch drawn by Queen Victoria in 1842. Now over a century later, Islay is begging hopefully for a coin to help deaf and blind children of New South Wales.
Islay died 26th April 1844 and buried in Adelaide Cottage, Windsor Castle.
