Larry La Trobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry La Trobe |
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| Artist | Pamela Irving |
| Year | 1992, 1996 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 70 cm (28 in) |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
Larry La Trobe is a well-known bronze statue of a dog. You can find it in Melbourne's City Square, right at the corner of Collins Street and Swanston Street. This friendly dog statue is one of only two artworks that stand freely in the City Square area. The first "Larry" statue was actually stolen, so the one you see today is a replacement.
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Larry La Trobe: Melbourne's Famous Dog Statue
The Story of Larry's Creation
The idea for the Larry La Trobe statue came from Melbourne artist Pamela Irving. She was asked by the Melbourne City Council to create it in 1992. This was the very first sculpture for Melbourne's Open Air Sculpture Museum.
Pamela based the statue on her own dog, Lucy. Larry isn't meant to be any specific dog breed. Instead, it was designed to show a bit of Australian "larrikinism." This means a playful, cheeky, and sometimes rebellious spirit.
Pamela named the statue after her uncle, Larry. The last name "La Trobe" was added to connect it to Melbourne and the state of Victoria. Charles La Trobe was an important person; he was the first leader, or Lieutenant-Governor, of Victoria.
The Mystery of the Missing Larry
Even though the original statue was held down by strong bolts, it was stolen one night in August 1995. People thought it might have been taken as a prank by university students. Others wondered if it had been melted down for its metal.
A local newspaper, the Melbourne Times, started a campaign to find Larry. This effort got a lot of people interested and excited. To help spread the word, a giant two-meter-tall version of Larry was made for the 1996 Moomba Parade. This was hoped to encourage someone to return the real statue.
Despite all the public attention, the original Larry statue was never found. No one was ever caught for taking it.
A New Larry for Melbourne
In 1996, a kind person named Peter Kolliner paid for a brand new statue to be made. He used to own the factory where the first Larry was created. The new statue was cast using the exact same mold as the original. However, Pamela Irving made a small change. She made the metal a bit redder to give this second "Larry" its own special look.
The new Larry was put back in City Square. Melbourne's Lord Mayor, Councillor Ivan Deveson, officially showed it to the public on September 16, 1996.
The big two-meter replica of Larry, which was used in the Moomba Parade, later traveled to Osaka, Japan. Osaka is a "sister city" to Melbourne. In 1997, it was part of the Midosuji Parade there and even won an award for being the Best Float!
What Larry Looks Like
The Larry La Trobe statue is about 70 centimeters tall. It is made from bronze, which is a type of metal. Some people think it looks like a dingo, which is an Australian wild dog. But remember, the artist created a mix of different dog features, so it doesn't represent just one breed.
Larry in the Spotlight
Larry's image has been used in other fun ways too. In 1999, it was a special feature of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Ceramic statues of Larry were made to look like famous artworks, but with a funny twist. These were shown in the windows of Myer on Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall. Pamela Irving also created a sculpture called "Phar Larry" for the 1999 Melbourne Cup. This showed Larry riding the famous racehorse Phar Lap.
Why Larry is So Loved
Larry La Trobe is in a great spot, easy for everyone to see and enjoy. Because of its location and friendly appearance, it has become one of the most photographed statues in Melbourne. Many people love to stop and take a picture with this charming bronze dog.
Gallery
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The second bronze statue of Larry La Trobe, Melbourne City Square.
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Larry La Trobe statue with the statue of Burke & Wills in the background.
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The second bronze statue of Larry La Trobe created by Melbourne artist Pamela Irving, Melbourne City Square.
