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Wheat Industry Memorial (Milestones Sculptures)Print Page Print this page

01-July-2015
01-July-2015

Photographs supplied by Arthur Garland / Sandra Brown

The "Milestones Sculptures" commemorate the significance of the wheat industry in the Cootamundra and Wallendbeen areas. It is an area that has seen some of the nation`s finest high quality award winning wheat crops.

The sculptures are made from cast concrete and use patterns that represent wheat stalks cut from compressed fibrous cement, painted in the soft colour of wheat. Each sculpture is topped with an acrylic panel inlaid with the motif of a huge head of wheat.

Fibre optics have been used to light the sculptures making them visible from dusk until dawn. At night the colours of green and gold can be seen as they simulate the growth cycle and the subtle movement of a dense crop of wheat.

Location

Address:Olympic Highway & Burley Griffen Way, Mackay Park, Wallendbeen, 2588
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -34.529255
Long: 148.163105
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Sculpture
Monument Theme:Technology
Sub-Theme:Agriculture
Artist:Dawn Elrington

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Friday 4th July, 1997
Front Inscription

MILESTONE SCULPTURES
CELEBRATING THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT INDUSTRY

Plaque :

MILESTONE SCULPTURES

The "Milestones"  sculpture project pays tribute to the significance of the wheat industry in the Cootamundra and Wallendbeen areas. It is an area that has seen some of the nation`s finest high quality award winning wheat crops.  The project grew out of a major community achievement that transformed the site using the "milestone" concept.  A concept, which refers to the previous mileposts that were used to mark out distances between small villages and country towns in earlier days.

In summary hundreds of people have been involved in the activities of the milestone sculpture project.  The dedication and commitment of the youth and families in the district ensured the success of the milestone sculptures project.

The sculptures are made from cast concrete and use patterns that represent wheat stalks cut from compressed fibrous cement, painted in the soft colour of wheat. Each sculpture is topped with an acrylic panel inlaid with the motif of a huge head of wheat.  Fibre optics have been used to light the sculptures making them visible from dusk until dawn. At night the colours of green and gold can be seen as they simulate the growth cycle and the subtle movement of a dense crop of wheat.

The committee and artists have been innovative and creative in utilising the latest technology and equipment to assist in creating the components of the sructure.  The inspiration for the artist came from the wonderful visual effects of the wind rippling across vast expanses of wheat.  The magical effects of light and colour are orchestrated by computer and colour wheels.

Left Side Inscription

THE MILESTONE PROJECT

This Plaque was unveiled on
14th November 1997
                 By

His Excellency the Hon. Gordon Samuels AC  
Governor of New South Wales

In the company of
Cr M. P. Braybrooks  
Mayor of Cootamundra Shire Council
And

Cr Frank Smith Chairman of The Milestones Committee to celebrate the completion of the Wallendbeen Site.

Being a project of 
The Cootamundra Shire Council
The New South Wales Government - Ministry for the Arts
The Australia Council for the Arts
The Arts Council of New South Wales Ltd
The Milestones Committee

Artist : Dawn Elrington

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au