One of Sydney’s most intricate historic monuments has been restored to its former glory, thanks to the work of the NSW government’s specialist stonemasons unit, a group of Sydney philanthropists and the Royal Botanic Garden.
The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, is an 1870 replica of an ancient Greek monument dating from 334BC.
Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet today unveiled the monument, which has been restored in part thanks a $200,000 investment as part of the Minister’s Stonework Program.
“The Lysicrates monument represents the rich cultural history and heritage that has shaped our city, our state and our nation, and we simply must preserve that history for future generations,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Earlier this year the government committed an additional $2 million in funding for our specialist stonemasons to restore and preserve our heritage icons, and I was pleased to be able to include the preservation of this monument as part of the program.”
In addition to its links to ancient Greece, the Sydney monument has considerable local historical significance. It was commissioned in 1868 by Premier James Martin (after whom Martin Place was named), and is carved from Sydney’s iconic Yellowblock sandstone.
Originally located in Martin’s Potts Point garden, the monument was saved from demolition in 1943 and relocated to the Royal Botanical Gardens by the then premier William McKell, following a campaign by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Fritz Burnell.
In 2014 a group of Sydney philanthropists noticed that rain and winds had eroded the soft golden sandstone of the monument. The group formed the Lysicrates Foundation, which has worked closely with the Minister’s Stonework Program and Royal Botanic Gardens to restore the monument.
Ongoing maintenance of the monument will be supported by the Lysicrates Foundation and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Lysicrates Foundation has also founded an annual play writing competition in the Greek theatrical tradition as part of its work to promote performing and visual arts in Australia.
For more information, visit www.lysicratesfoundation.org.au