From bronze to steel and granite, Eyre Peninsula is home to a number of breathtaking sculptures made by talented artists.
Whether you are an art lover or a photo hunter, these sculptures are sure to have your attention.
Port Lincoln
The Port Lincoln foreshore is home to three astonishing bronze sculptures. The Makybe Diva and Tuna Poler statues are the work of renowned local sculptor Ken Martin, putting the spotlight on a sporting legend with a Port Lincoln connection and a tribute to the city’s famed fishing industry. Makybe Diva was unveiled in 2006 and the Tuna Poler in 2019. Across the road on Tasman Terrace is a statue created by English sculptor Mark Richards, unveiled in 2017, of explorer Matthew Flinders. The sculpture, which depicts Flinders kneeling and using his compass to chart his voyage along the South Australian coast, also includes his cat Trim, who accompanied the captain on his voyages.
Streaky Bay
Another Ken Martin statue adorns the foreshore at Streaky, once more with a racing connection. This time, it is a life-size bronze statue of three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy. The piece was unveiled in 2022, after the Streaky Bay community fundraised to pay honour to its local champion.
Wudinna
Unveiled in 2009, sculptor Marijan Bekic’s Australian Farmer is a tribute to the Wudinna district’s farmers, from pioneering days through to the present time. It takes a human form, but the top of the granite sculpture represents the sun, in the body are grain crops, while sheep are placed at the foot of the design. Heading north from Wudinna is a walking trail which leads to Polda Rock. On your way you can say hello to Maurie the Emu and his trio of chicks, named Wud, Din and Na, plus a kangaroo – all made by local plumber and scrap metal artist Geoff Martin.
Elliston
Elliston’s Anxious Bay Clifftop Drive provides incredible views of the crashing waves below, but is also a must to check out the art along the way. Some pieces have been there for a number of years, while recent additions have added to the spectacle. Among the quirky pieces are The Passage by Marijan Bekic, Thongz by Todd Romanowycz, Mara by Siv Grava and Headland by Thomas Tesselaar.
Venus Bay
Pauly Pelican is another Geoff Martin design which was unveiled in 2022 to pay homage to the town’s fishing heritage – in particular Greek migrant Kon Paleologoudias. Made from scrap metal, 2.5-metre high Pauly sits near the Venus Bay Licensed General Store overlooking the fleet of boats moored at the Venus Bay jetty. Pauly received a friend – Stumpy the Seagull – alongside in 2023, also made from steel.
Cleve
Cleve has multiple impressive metal sculptures crafted by the hand of Peter Crosby. The local artist first created two Clydesdale sculptures – Bonney and Clyde, with one located on his land near the Eyre Peninsula Field Days site and the other on Main Street. Also located on the town’s main thoroughfare is Redgie the Wedgie – the wedge-tailed eagle perched on a branch with wings spread majestically. Rodney the Roo is the newest sculpture from “Turtle” and was unveiled at the field days event in 2024 but does not yet have a public home.
