A towering three-meter bronze gorilla sculpture has been installed at Corrigan's Reserve in Batehaven, New South Wales, creating a heated debate among residents and visitors. The artwork, titled "Wild Mother Eastern Lowland Gorilla," depicts a 30-year-old eastern lowland gorilla named Mina and represents the second installation in an ambitious public art project spanning the Eurobodalla region.
The sculpture is part of a remarkable collection of 22 artworks created by internationally acclaimed British-Australian artists Gillie and Marc, with a total value of $1.6 million. These pieces have been permanently donated to the Eurobodalla Shire Council through the Australian government's Cultural Gifts Program, with the remaining 20 sculptures scheduled for installation across the region over the next seven months.
Local reaction has been mixed, with social media groups lighting up with commentary about the project. Some residents have questioned the $27,000 installation cost to the council, while others have criticized the decision to feature non-native animals in the local landscape. Pictures of the gorilla statue have generated significant online discussion, with debates ranging from placement choices to the appropriateness of the subject matter.
Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Mathew Hatcher has defended the installation, stating that the controversy was entirely expected and welcomed. "Those noticeboards are lit up at the moment because of a gorilla and people telling you where [we] should have put it [or] we don't have gorillas in the Eurobodalla so why do we have a gorilla?" he explained. "No matter if we put nothing or we put something, there's going to be people who are for and against it."
According to Hatcher, the primary goal of the project is to create cultural engagement and foster community dialogue. "There's no doubt people are talking," he noted. "It's getting engagement and that's what art is all about." The mayor emphasized that the installations are designed to spark conversation, attract visitors to the region, and establish a distinctive cultural identity for the town.
Gillie and Marc are renowned for their large public installations in major cities worldwide, specializing in conservation-based artwork inspired by wildlife preservation themes. Their first installation in the region, "The Splendid Fairywren Loved Adventure with Rabbitwoman and Dogman," was placed at Nato Oval in Narooma in early November, setting the stage for the broader artistic initiative.
The artists explained their motivation for the generous donation in a statement released through their publicist. After traveling to the region and being moved by its natural beauty, they felt compelled to contribute something meaningful to the community. "After the devastating [Black Summer] bushfires and the continuing pressures on habitat, we felt a strong responsibility to give something meaningful back," they stated, referencing the catastrophic 2019-2020 wildfire season that severely impacted the area.
The remaining 20 sculptures in the collection will feature life-sized bronze depictions of critically endangered baby animals, continuing the conservation theme that defines Gillie and Marc's artistic vision. Each piece is designed to raise awareness about wildlife conservation while creating distinctive landmarks throughout the Eurobodalla region.
Despite the online controversy, visitors who have seen the gorilla sculpture in person have generally responded positively. Sunshine Bay resident Seamus Donegan expressed his approval, saying, "I think it's good. It will attract people to the park and it's a good talking point." Local resident Graham Milliken was even more enthusiastic, describing the statue as "grouse" and praising its representational style over abstract art.
The bronze gorilla features an accompanying plaque that describes the depicted animal as a "peaceful queen," providing educational context about the species and its conservation status. Locals and tourists have been regularly stopping at Corrigan's Reserve to photograph the sculpture and examine the artwork up close, suggesting that the installation is achieving its goal of drawing visitors and creating community engagement.
As the remaining sculptures are scheduled for installation over the coming months, the Eurobodalla region is positioning itself as a significant destination for public art and wildlife conservation awareness. The project represents one of the most substantial art donations in the area's history, potentially transforming the cultural landscape of this coastal New South Wales region while continuing to generate spirited community debate about the role of public art in local identity.
