Giant new public artwork Guardian Lion rises over Southbank

Commuters travelling along the Westgate Freeway will soon be watched over by Guardian Lion, a giant neon light artwork set to be unveiled in Southbank on March 7.

Measuring almost 19 metres long and more than 15 metres high, Guardian Lion was designed by acclaimed Melbourne-born artist Troy Emery for the southern wall of the Melbourne Square development.

The multi-coloured, laser-cut aluminium display will illuminate nightly and be easily visible to commuters on the Kings Way, Sturt St, the West Gate Freeway and in surrounding neighbourhoods.

Mr Emery said he was honoured to have his first permanent public artwork installed in his hometown and to contribute to Melbourne’s roster of iconic public imagery.

“I hope this colourful art wall becomes a beloved city landmark, acting as a guardian to the city and standing as a welcome protector to visitors and residents alike,” he said.

Mr Emery said Guardian Lion was inspired by long-standing Victorian folklore of large cats, panthers, pumas or lions, said to live in bushland in the Grampians mountain range in the west of the state.

Sightings of the Grampians’s big cats date back two centuries, fuelled by stories of circus animal escapes and animal mascots brought to Australia by American servicemen during World War II.

Scientists have also linked the local descriptions of the giant felines to the native Thylacoleo, an Australian species of lion thought to have been extinct for more than 30,000 years.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece likened the Guardian Lion to the famous Skipping Girl neon sign in Abbotsford and said it was destined to become a city landmark.

“It’s a brilliant addition [to] the thriving and evolving public art scene in Melbourne – solidifying our position as Australia’s leading art city,” Cr Reece said.

Melbourne Square developer OSK Property Australia said the neon artwork underpinned its commitment to the Southbank community.

OSK in December won the Best Apartment Development category at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards for their BLVD project, the latest of the six towers planned for the precinct.

The $3 billion development is expected to be completed by 2031.

OSK Property Australia CEO Chong Boon Woon said, “Guardian Lion is a testament to our vision of making Melbourne Square a cultural and social hub for Southbank.”

“This symbol of Melbourne’s creative and inclusive spirit is our contribution and one that we hope continues to thrive for many years to come.”

Cr Reece and Mr Emery will attend Guardian Lion’s first illumination in a ceremony at Melbourne Square on Friday, March 7. •