Hunt for brazen thieves after famed city sculptures stolen
Two of the city’s most famous citizens have been targeted by thieves in a brazen theft on North Terrace.
SA Police say two bronze busts of prominent South Australians have been pinched from North Terrace and they need help in getting the famed sculptures returned.
The bust of suffragist Mary Lee was stolen from its plinth on North Terrace, near Government House, sometime between 26 June and 2 July.
Lee led the successful campaign for women in South Australia to win the vote in 1894, the first state in the nation.
She was also part of the push that led to women having the right to stand for parliament at the same time, a world first.
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While a second bust of sculptor John Stuart Dowie was also stolen around the same time from its plinth outside the State Library.
Dowie was famed for creating more than 50 public sculptures of his own, including the much-loved Three Rivers Fountain in Victoria Square and the Girl on a Slide sculpture that has been in Rundle Mall since 1977.
He was born in Prospect but lived in Dulwich most of his life. He was a World War II soldier and died in 2008.
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Dowie was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1981 for service to the arts as a sculptor and painter.
Today, South Australian unions issued a statement saying members were saddened that the bust of suffragist and union leader Mary Lee was stolen.
SA Unions Secretary Dale Beasley called on police and the City of Adelaide to make every effort to restore Mary Lee’s statue as a matter of urgency.
Mary Lee was a key figure in the early history of the United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia (now known as SA Unions).
Beasley said Mary Lee’s legacy “reminds us that the struggle for gender equality has always been deeply entwined with the struggle for workers’ rights”.
“All South Australians should be proud of Mary Lee’s tireless fight for women’s suffrage, which made our state the first place in the world where women could vote and stand for parliament,” he said.
“Mary Lee fought for women’s suffrage as a unionist who knew that workers in their unions have the power to change the world for the better.”
“It’s important that Mary Lee’s statue is restored as a matter of urgency so that her example can continue inspiring South Australian working women who are still fighting for equality today.”
Anyone with information on the thefts or the whereabouts of the stolen public artworks should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.
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