Calls to remove a controversial artwork described as a ‘visual atrocity’ by residents have been silenced after a city mayor launched a blistering defence.
The installation titled ‘Illawarra Placed Landscape’ or better known by locals as ‘palm tree up a pole’ was created by New Zealand artist Mike Hewson.
The contentious work is a permanent public asset located near the Crown Street Mall in Wollongong, a coastal city about 90km south of Sydney.
The project – which cost an estimated $500,000 from concept to completion – was commissioned by Wollongong City Council in 2015 and installed in 2017.
The centrepiece of the 230metre installation is the infamous 17-metre tall ‘palm pole’ – a living uprooted palm tree suspended on a telegraph pole.
The divisive artwork has been the subject of heated debate at the council.
Outgoing councillor Dom Figliomeni tabled a motion calling for the removal of the palm tree ‘at the earliest opportunity’ in July this year.
‘I’ll get my flak jacket first,’ Cr Figliomeni said as he introduced the motion.
The contentious work (pictured) is a permanent public asset located near the Crown Street Mall in Wollongong, a coastal city about 90km south of Sydney
On New Year’s Day in 2022 the pricey installation survived an arson attack when a lit firecracker was thrown at its base and engulfed the artwork in flames (pictured)
Cr Figliomeni said it would cost the council an estimated $1million to remove the palm tree and surrounding sandstone blocks.
It costs $35,000 a year to maintain the work; including hiring a special platform to reach the tree, sustain the irrigation system and for engineering certifications.
‘I do appreciate that there will be some passionate discussions as a result, but I do believe that over the longer term, there is real advantages in council bracing the decision to say we need to dispose of it,’ Cr Figliomeni said.
But former Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery hit back at plans to remove the palm tree, arguing that in terms of what the council usually spent on art, $35,000 for maintenance was not unusual.
‘There is our art gallery where I think we spent something like $90,000 restoring one artwork,’ he told the meeting.
‘You talk about $35,000 for outdoor art. You don’t know anything about art.’
The motion to remove the palm tree up a pole was punted, with only councillors Figliomeni and former rugby league great John Dorahy voting in favour.
The installation titled ‘Illawarra Placed Landscape’ or better known by locals as ‘palm tree up a pole’ was created by New Zealand artist Mike Hewson (the work is pictured)
The artwork has also drawn mixed reviews on social media.
‘Some councils spend money on footpaths. Others go bankrupt or build stupid pools. Others still declare a tree a criminal and hang it in the town square,’ one person wrote in a thread on Reddit.
‘Is this a joke on Australia being upside-down when they had to secure the tree to the pole to keep it from falling into the sky?’ another joked.
‘Despite how ugly this art installation is, I still absolutely love it just purely based off of the fact that the local council spent so much money on this visual atrocity that it doubles back into being a really cool art installation about how local councils should allocate funds,’ a third said.
‘The amount of coverage this tree has gotten over the years has justified the reason why the tree was put there in the first place,’ a fourth shared.
On New Year’s Day in 2022 the palm tree survived an arson attack when a lit firecracker was thrown at its base and engulfed the artwork in flames.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Wollongong City Council for comment.
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