Future of Robe Obelisk

Future of Robe Obelisk

19 June 2024

I rise today seeking government support or assistance for the preservation of the iconic Robe obelisk. As you may or may not be aware, the obelisk was built on Cape Dombey in 1885 as a day guide for ships entering Guichen Bay. The aim was to create a landmark that could be seen at 16 kilometres out to sea in ordinary weather. The structure stands at 12.2 metres tall and is painted with three white and two red stripes, creating what has become Robe's most famous landmark.

Since it was built, the soft sandstone cliffs on which it stands have eroded significantly, meaning that the obelisk will eventually fall into the sea. It is now off limits to the public but still draws thousands of tourists each year. Recently, the Robe Council said it had decided not to spend ratepayers' funds, looking into options to preserve the obelisk. Mayor Lisa Ruffell has now called a public meeting for 11 July to see what locals would like to do about the iconic structure.

When you think of Robe you think of the obelisk, the same way as when you think of Kingston you think of the jetty or the Cape Jaffa Lighthouse, both of which are needing large amounts of money to preserve their integrity. It is a catch-22 situation. Local councils that have towns in their boundary that are popular tourist destinations often do not have the funds due to their ratepayer base to preserve the landmarks that help make them popular.

The state government has acknowledged that the obelisk is important to the local community and the state in general; therefore, I hope this government can assist where required. It may not be financially viable to save the obelisk, but we at least need to do the work to find out what the potential solutions could be. I call on the government to liaise with the council on this issue. Relocation may not be an option but reconstruction of a matching obelisk back further from the cliff may be a more practical solution. We need to investigate the options, not sit back and do nothing.

 

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