City of Whyalla, Media Release, 27 April 2026

The Matthew Flinders and Louis de Freycinet statues are undergoing restoration, helping preserve these well-known local landmarks for the Whyalla community to enjoy for many years to come.

The work is being carried out by local business Signarama, after rust and wear over time caused noticeable damage to parts of the statues. One of the restored statues has now been reinstalled and is once again on display, while work continues on the second statue, which will be returned soon.

Signarama’s Paul Schmidt said the restoration took time and care to get right.

“When we looked closely, we found some pretty serious rust damage, with parts of the statues starting to break away, so we cleaned up all the rust, treated the metal to stop it coming back, and rebuilt the damaged areas before repainting and sealing everything to protect it.”

Paul said the project also showed how much the statues mean to locals.

“One of the statues was only gone for a short time and people noticed straight away, that really shows how important they are to the community,” he said.

The completed statue is now looking refreshed and ready to stand the test of time, with the second soon to follow.

“They’re looking clean and renewed again and most importantly, they’re now protected for the future,” Paul said.

Mayor Phill Stone said he is glad to see the statues being brought back to life, “It’s great to see one already back in place and looking its best again, with the other not far away. This work ensures they can be enjoyed for years to come.”