Saturday 1 May 2010

The Rocks, Biggles (Theme Day: Statues)

I've featured many statues of prominent people around Sydney but for this theme day I thought I'd feature something a bit different. This bronze statue of a dog called 'Biggles', created in 1995, is located at the corner of Atherden Street and Playfair Street at The Rocks, outside his owner's home. The Miniature Schnauzer born in 1980, was a loved friend of the community here and his antics such as leaping off balconies to chase cats, made him a minor celebrity. He met with an unfortunate end, last seen leaping off a cliff near Mrs Macquarie's Chair in 1994, rumoured to be chasing a rat. The devastated local community rallied around to organise a statue in his honour.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants of this theme day.

34 comments:

  1. Oh no! Leaping off a cliff?!
    Well, good that he is immortalized in bronze now and lives on.

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  2. I'm very fond of miniature schnauzers so Love this statue. :)

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  3. He's adorable! I guess he was performing his antics until the bitter end.

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  4. Being a small dog lover/owner, and having had to rescue my Jack Russell from the most unlikely spots, I would pose that Biggles, like many small dogs with very large souls, thought he was immortal. Jumping off a cliff should have been no big deal...
    Very nice shot.

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  5. How lovely that a sculpture was created in memory of such a great little dog. What a cutie he was. A lovely and different choice for today.

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  6. Ooooh. That last antic was a real doozie, wasn't it?

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  7. My husband loves our little Shih Tzu, Molly so much, I can see him having a statue made of her if something happened to her.

    Off a cliff....that is awful!

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  8. Is that true? He leapt off the cliff?

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    1. Yes, he was chasing a bandicoot or rar off a cliff. He was my grandads dog.

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    2. Yes it is true and it was a Rat Biggles was our family pet but was most of all Dad's who has now joined him so they can now carry on there antics together.

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  9. A fitting tribute to a beloved pet. He looks such a happy little fellow and must have brought great joy to his owner.
    Cheers.
    Melbourne Daily Photo

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  10. nice sculpture.... wish to have one of those in my garden...

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  11. How sad! He must have been much loved to have a statue made of him. I'm glad he lives on in this form. It's a beautiful image.

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  12. i feel like i've read about this dog before! i'm glad they gave him a statue!

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  13. How amazing to see, that people do care that much.

    Please have a wonderful weekend and new month as well.

    daily athens

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  14. Hi Jim,
    We're coming down to Sydney tomorrow for three weeks to be with our daughter who is about to give birth to our first grandchild. We'll be having a good look around while we're there and probably see some of the things you've shown us on your blog. I'll be blogging by remote control.
    Cheers, Bill

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  15. Andrew, it certainly seems to be true. The story even made the newspapers.

    Bill, that's great news and I hope you have a good stay in Sydney.

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  16. Interesting pick, in Thailand we have one statue of little dog which proof to be very honest to his owner.

    He is adorable as same as your post.

    You Got A Posty ~ PFF
    All Little Things I Like

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  17. Great theme day choice, but such a sad story. In the sculpture he looks as if he might be rethinking that final decision.

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  18. Oh goodness! What made him jump off a cliff??

    How sweet of the neighborhood to make him a statue. He's adorable.

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  19. Hilda, it was rumoured he was chasing a rat.

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  20. I love this little statue in The Rocks. Reminds me of Flinders' 'Trim' outside the library.

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  21. A very good choice, I like the idea of a monument to this really uncommon (and incautious) dog.

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  22. Can't figure out if I want to cry or laugh! Very cute statue :)

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  23. Another one I have never seen, its a bookend for Trim which is my favourite Sydney statue. Must have a look at it.

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  24. Julie and Ann, yes Flinder's cat Trim is brilliant outside the state library. Don't forget Queen Victoria's dog Ivan, who sits outside the Queen Victoria Building.

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  25. whwt a nice statue and unteresting with the story about it. Nice to make that as a rememberence

    thanks for all your nice comments on my blog!

    christina., sweden

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  26. Cute statue but what a sad story! I suppose, we should celebrate its life and not demise...

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  27. Yes it is true and it was a Rat Biggles was our family pet but was most of all Dad's who has now joined him so they can now carry on there antics together.

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