The Bondi Mermaids, Lyall Randolph and Bondi Beach 1960–2023

Abstract

This article focuses on two aspects of popular culture. Principally, the article presents a history of a popular sculpture erected at Australia’s Bondi Beach in 1960. The narrative follows the genesis of the work, its removal, and subsequent attempts to restore the sculpture at different locations on Bondi Beach and in the adjacent Bondi Park. Based on archival research and material from the popular press, the article offers the first thorough account of the sculpture, highlighting debates around its form, its popularity with local residents, the often-overlooked significance of the work as a tourist attraction, and decades-long efforts to restore the work. Secondly, the article identifies the sculpture’s creator, Lyall Randolph, as an artist who enjoyed popular appeal in Australia at this time, despite never reaching the status of an ‘elite’ artist. Investigating the place of a popular artwork in the cultural and social history of Australia’s most iconic beach, the article contributes to both Bondi and Sydney’s eastern suburbs’ local history and knowledge about popular Australian artists.