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Following retirement from the stainless steel industry in December 2014, my wife and I undertook
the holiday of a lifetime in Australia. This took the form of a journey from Melbourne to as far
north as Bundaberg and finishing in Brisbane. However, I knew that I would not be able to
completely forget about stainless steel. This article is a summary of what we came across during
the trip.
Silver Lining?
In 2011, much of the Queensland coast around Brisbane was devastated by severe flooding.
Much of the Brisbane riverside infrastructure was severely damaged. The authorities have acted
quickly to repair and indeed expand the riverside walkways along the meandering loops of the
Brisbane River. Many hundreds of metres of stainless steel handrails have been installed on
these walkways.
Memorials
Stainless steel is a natural material to provide lasting memorials due to its durability and strength.
In the UK, this evidenced by such projects as the Hyde Park 7/7 Memorial and the National
Memorial Arboretum. The 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day was especially poignant during our
trip. The 25th April is very special to the Australians, comparable to Remembrance Day in the UK.
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is approached by Anzac Parade which is lined by
numerous sculptures in memory of various conflicts and parts of the Armed Forces. Typical of
these are those dedicated to the RAAF and those who died in the Korean War.
Sculptures
Ever since the invention of stainless steel, artists have used the material to express their ideas.
Highly polished stainless steel provides a medium which is not only beautiful in itself but also
reflects its surroundings to further enhance the viewers experience. A good example can be
found at the National Art Gallery Sculpture Garden at Canberra. With the refreshingly simple title
of Cones, this sculpture is exactly as described!
The slightly more cryptic title of Morning Star is attached to another striking sculpture in the
Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
On the cliff top above the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point, stands the sculpture Venus Rising:
Out of the Water and Into the Light by Wolfgang Buttress. The sculpture was chosen by the local
population for this most visible of sites. The interaction of the different layers of materials and
the ability to see inside the sculpture provides a variety of views of this work.
After visiting the sculpture, we relaxed at the nearby Cliffs Coffee bar, appropriately largely made
out of stainless steel.
Give Me Strength
The combination of strength and durability is leading to increased use of stainless steel in
bridges. This can either be for the main part of the bridge or for critical components. An example
of the latter can be found on the Kurilpa Bridge at Brisbane. It is both beautiful and functional. It
won an award in the Transport Category at the 2011 World Architecture Festival.
Seat of Power
The choice of Canberra for the Federal capital was controversial. It is largely an artificial city but
nevertheless has some very interesting buildings. The new Parliament building is one of these.
Its construction is crowned with a stainless steel flagpole weighing in at 220 tonnes.