Dog on the Tuckerbox facts for kids
The Dog on the Tuckerbox is a famous Australian statue and a popular place to visit. It is located near Gundagai, a town in New South Wales. The statue is about eight kilometres (five miles) from Gundagai. It is inspired by an old Australian song and poem.
A "tuckerbox" is an old Australian word for a food box. It is like a lunchbox, but usually bigger.
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The Story Behind the Statue
The idea for the statue comes from an old poem called "Bullocky Bill." It was written by someone called "Bowyang Yorke" around 1857. The poem is a funny story about a bullock driver and his troubles. A bullock driver was a person who used a team of bullocks (male cattle) to pull heavy wagons.
The poem tells how the bullock driver, Bill, had many problems. His team got stuck, and his dog caused trouble. The dog sat on or spoiled the food in Bill's tuckerbox. This happened "five miles from Gundagai."
Here is a small part of the poem:
- And the dog sat in the tucker box
- Five miles from Gundagai.
Later, another writer named Jack Moses wrote a popular poem about the dog. This poem helped make the story even more famous. In 1937, Jack O'Hagan wrote a song called "Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox (5 miles from Gundagai)." This song became very well-known across Australia.
Building the Monument
The very first dog monument was put up in 1926. It was about nine miles from Gundagai.
In 1928, a stonemason from Gundagai named Frank Rusconi suggested building a better memorial. He wanted it to be based on the Dog on the Tuckerbox story. The local community liked his idea.
In 1932, the town decided to build the monument. They chose a spot about five miles from Gundagai. This spot was closer to the main highway and the town. This made it easier for tourists to visit.
A competition was held to find the best words for the monument. The winning words were written by Brian Fitzpatrick. They are carved into the base of the statue. These words honour the early pioneers and bullock drivers. These brave people helped build the roads and open up the country.
Frank Rusconi created the dog part of the statue. It was made at a place called 'Oliver's Foundry' in Sydney. Rusconi also sculpted the base of the monument.
Opening the Statue
The Dog on the Tuckerbox monument was officially opened in 1932. This happened during a special event called 'Back to Gundagai' week. Many people came to see the unveiling.
The Prime Minister of Australia at the time, Joseph Lyons, unveiled the statue. This means he officially showed it to the public for the first time. This happened on November 28, 1932.
A wishing well was placed at the base of the monument. Money put into this well was given to the Gundagai District Hospital. A souvenir shop was also opened nearby. The hospital received money from companies that used the dog's image.
Recent History
Since 1992, a "Dog on the Tuckerbox" festival has been held every year. This celebrates the monument's anniversary. In November 2005, the festival included a racing event and other fun activities.
In 2019, the statue was slightly damaged. It was fixed and put back in place in August 2019.
After the statue was first opened, someone removed the Prime Minister's name from its base. This was likely done by someone who disagreed with him. The stonemason, Rusconi, said the marble slab had to be taken away to be properly fixed.
Images for kids
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The famous Dog on the Tuckerbox statue.
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The first monument, photographed in 1926.
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A bullock team at the monument's opening in 1932.
