Hornsby, water clock (Theme Day: Time)

"Man, Time and the Environment", also known as the Hornsby Water Clock or Hornsby Water Sculpture is a fusion of kinetic sculpture, decorative fountain, musical instrument and a functional clock. It is located in Hornsby Mall, a pedestrian mall in Florence Street, in the northern suburb of Hornsby. This work, unveiled in 1993, was created by Australian sculptor Victor Cusack from cast bronze, stainless steel, and toughened plate glass. It is approximately 8 metres tall and weighs 20 tonnes, including the pontoon which rotates one revolution every 12 hours as a pointer sweeps past Roman numerals on the fountain’s perimeter, with the mechanisms driven by water. Time is represented by three types of water-powered clocks, a 4th century BC Greek clepsydra, an 11th century Chinese water wheel clock and a 17th century Swiss pendulum clock, plus a 17-note bronze tubular bell carillon that rings the hour based on a design found in an 18th century English church. Environment is represented by sculpted forms of the fauna of Hornsby Shire from the rainbow lorikeet, to the blue tongue lizard, the fruit bat and possum. The clock face bears the inscription "Dare We Forget" as a reminder of the importance of preserving the environment. Man is represented by the figure of a woman and a child.

Linked to: Theme Day, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday.