The Lucinda Memorial Sculpture

Middle Harbour and the waters around the Spit have hosted important events in Australian history throughout the last few centuries. In the middle of Spit West Reserve, between the playground and playing field, is the Lucinda Memorial Sculpture, designed and built by Haydn Wilson and unveiled on October 27, 2000. This unique piece of public art commemorates the Centenary of Australian Federation on January 1, 1901. The paddlewheel steam yacht Lucinda carried delegates to the 1891 National Australasian Convention around Broken Bay, the Pittwater, and Middle Harbour near the Spit. Delegates to the Convention revised a draft Constitution bill, among whom was Australia’s first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton.[1] The frame contains 2001 rocks sourced from across Australia, to symbolise the amalgamating and uniting nature of Australia becoming a Commonwealth.

[1] Lucinda Memorial Sculpture, 2001. Public art display. Spit West Reserve, Spit Road, NSW, accessed 24 November 2021.