MAQUETTE - PIONEER'S REST BY OWN DAVIES

This is a maquette made by local scultor Owen Davies of his sculpture 'Pioneer's Rest' which was commissioned by the Armadale Chamber of Commerce to be installeded the eastern end of Jull Street Mall, near the intersection of Jull Street and Third Road, in 1994. 1994 was the centenary year of the formation of the Kelmscott Road Board which evolved into the City of Armadale. The statue was unveiled on 10 December 1994. Roly Richardson the chair of the Centenary Committee who over saw the project addressed those attending Rodger Day the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia unveiled the statue.
The 1890s styled swagman represented the 'pioneers' and tradespeople who contributed to the growth of the City of Armadale. The waterwheel references the Buckingham family timber mill powered by a waterwheel on the Canning River and the importance the Canning River, creeks, dams and other waterways have had in the development of the City. The wall represents the local brick industry and other local manufacturing industries.
This was one 15 maquetts, or minuture versions of the statue produced by Owen Davies. At the unveiling ceremony one of the maquett was presented to Cr Rodger Stubbs, Mayor of the City of Armadale by the Armadale Chamber of Commerce Centenary Committee.
Other minatures were presented to Helen Coles of Alcoa of Australia, Roger Day from chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia, Alec Wood, life member of the Armadale Chamber of Commerce, Harold and Penny Wilson from Armadale Do it Yourself, Rob Barkin, project manager, Graham Cardellm chamber vice president, Jim Hobbs-Turner, president of the chamber, George Law, former president of the chamber, Fred Nancarrow, assited with the plumbing for the sculpture, David and Sherrel O'Neil of O'Neil & Son's Real Estate, Roly Richardson and Edwin Smith on behalf of the Taylor family, 'pioneers' of Forrestdale.
In 1993 the Armadale Chamber of Commerce formed a Centenary Committee who commissioed Owen Davies who had recently installed sculptures at Princess Margaret Hospital, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Seton Catholic College as well as for a number of private clients. The brief was to 'produce a sculpture that was impressive, large enough so people could not walk past unaffected by its presence, reflected the Armadale and Districts unique characteristics and Commerce's large contribution to the growth of Armadale.' (address by Mr Roley Richards, chair of the Armadale chamber of Commerce Centenary Committee at the unveiling of the sculpture). The sculpture was funded thanks to sponsorship from Alcoa of Australia Ltd, Armadale Do it Yourself, A Touch of Class Landscaping, Bankwest, Armadale Tow Bar & Exhausts, City of Armadale, Valley Furniture, Law Casting, Scope Irrigation, John O'Neil & son Real Estate, Down Under Signs, Katherine Clara Taylor and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Western Australia. Further funding was also acquired through the selling of 30 plaques that were included as part of the sculpture and the production of 150 wall plaques of the sculpture which were sold for $25 each.
The Centenary Committee included Jim Hobbs-Turner, president of the Armadale chamber of Commerce, Graham Cardell, Armadale Chamber of Commerce Vice President, David O'Neil, Fred Nancarrow & Rob Bamkin who was also the project manager.