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Elaine Appleton Sculpture

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162 Main Road, Chewton VIC 3451

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Features

  • Remarkable life-sized wooden sculpture
  • Information sign
Wander down Main Road in Chewton and stop by for a look at this amazing sculpture of local historian and treasure, Elaine Appleton! This wooden sculpture celebrates Elaine's unrivalled dedication and contributions over the years to the preservation of her community's local history.


Elaine has worked tirelessly for many decades, compiling and collating local photographs, news articles, and information and donating them to the local community. One of her many valuable projects is her collection of filmed interviews with "old timers" years ago, which provide a remarkable insight into the area's history which would otherwise have been lost.


The sculpture of Elaine was unveiled along Main Road in Chewton in 2022, an event which was well attended and celebrated by the local community.

Elaine regularly shares fascinating local photographs, articles and information to the brilliant Facebook group, Friends of Wattle Gully and Chewton. This group is one of the best local history pages in the Victorian Goldfields and is well worth checking out.


Information sign

An information sign accompanies the sculpture and displays the following text:

ELAINE MARY APPLETON (Jury) Born 25/9/1937 fifth generation of seven of Willian John Huckel Snr. and Charlotte Huckel (Smith) to live in Eureka Street Chewton.

Always involved in her hometown, it was in 1984, after a "Back to Chewton" that Elaine's interest in Chewton's history peaked and she began to record the past historic aspects of the area, interviewing the "old timers" and seeking old photographs pertaining to the rich history of the town.

With help from husband Len, Elaine produced four films, with thirty presenters and eleven hours of filming, which they financed and donated to the Chewton Town Hall Committee (now Chewton Domain Society) and (The Chewton Community and Senior Citizens Centre) for fundraising. (The sale of which generated approximately $20,000)

Elaine also collected historic photos of the area, which were titled and collated into large books (donated by Parks Victoria) and known as "People and Places Collection" initially holding 600 photos, the albums have been added to over the years. Elaine has also filmed and donated many local events.

Elaine continues to collate current history also compiling and donating history folders for Chewton People and Places Collection and other towns within the Mount Alexander Shire.

Without Elaine's perseverance, it is most likely that much of our colourful and amazing history would have been lost.

This sculpture recognises and acknowledges her tireless dedication to our town's history.

Sculpture commissioned to John Brady, Chainsaw Sculpture 2022.

CHEWTON'S SCULPTURE TRAIL

This sculpture is the sixth in a series by sculptors Richard Yates and John Brady, intended to preserve Chewton's history and bring some of the town's fascinating stories to life. There are six sculptures all up (so far), five of which were carved by Richard Yates. This latest sculpture, that of historian and local treasure Elaine Appleton, was carved by John Brady.

The other sculptures along this fascinating trail are:
These brilliant sculptures are all located along Main Road, Chewton. The sculptures begin near the Post Office and Town Hall, and end at Rod Hadfield's hot rod museum just out of town.


 

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