Australia Gate -- Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London, UK
N 51° 30.067 W 000° 08.394
30U E 698504 N 5709432
Sculptures of nude boys, sheep, aand kangaroo decorate the stone supports for the Australia Gate at Buckingham Palace
Waymark Code: WMT6VY
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/05/2016
Views: 10
In 1902, when plans for grand Memorial to Britain's recently deceased Queen Victoria were being drawn up by Sir Aston Webb, each dominion was asked to provide a gate leading to the roundabout in which the main central monument would be erected.
The Australia gate is one of three gates into Buckingham Palace given by former Imperial possessions. The Canada, Australia, and the South and West Africa gates all mark formal entrances into the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
The waymarked gate was given by the people of the Dominion of Australia in honor of their recently deceased monarch, Queen Victoria. The gate is made up of two separate stone and iron gates on sidewalks along Birdcage Walk. the stone columns frame a decorative iron arched entry decorated with royal symbols with details trimmed in golden enamel.
Four stone plans were supplied to support the wrought iron gates. To plants are topped with ornate lamps. The gates are placed over pedestrian entrances into Buckingham Park, so light was needed. The other two stone plants are topped with figurative sculptures of a boy and an animal figure intended to represent agriculture or indigenous wildlife unique to Australia.
For these plinths, each one is topped with a boy holding a shield with the coat of arms of Australia. However, these plinths differ in that behind the boy on the west side walk, stands a Merino sheep heavy with wool (symbolizing the Australian sheep and wool industry). Across Birdcage Walk on the eastern plinth, the boy stands with a kangaroo whose paws are reaching into its pouch. The kangaroo is the iconic symbol of Australia.
The three gates, together with a soaring monumental fountain and set in a roundabout comprise the 1908 Queen Victoria Memorial that dominates the front entry to Buckingham Palace.
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Australia Gate
Figure Type: Combination of two figure types
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Thomas Brock
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1908
Materials used: stone
Location: Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Palace
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