Mandurah's iconic giant to be restored after grim discovery

Perth Now

17-06-2025

The City of Mandurah is hoping to reopen access to one of the iconic Thomas Dambo giants in time for the school holidays after a grim discovery put her under repair.
After Mandurah Men's Shed discovered termite damage to the Lake Clifton sculpture's feet earlier this year, the giant known as Jyttes Hytte was closed to public access last week until repairs could be made. Termite damage on beloved Lake Clifton giant leads to amputation Credit: Supplied
Mandurah Men's Shed chairman Trevor Howard said the damage grew incrementally over the past few months.
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'We've had to temporarily amputate her feet to access and inspect the bottom part of her,' Mr Howard said.
He said the job would require the help of several Men's Shed volunteers but he was hopeful repairs would be done by the end of the month. Both feet of giant Jyttes Hytte has suffered damage and are under repair Credit: Supplied
'It's not very intricate, it's just that (creator Thomas Dambo) went to a lot of trouble to make it look as realistic as possible, which he did, and we want to try and maintain the sort of perfection he achieved,' he said.
The process will involve recalibrating sizing, making templates and reusing as much of the original material as possible but will ultimately require remaking the individual pieces to fit back together.
'We see this as an opportunity for us to use the range of skills our members have and help restore this fantastic and unique piece of art,' Mr Howard added.
In a Sydney Morning Herald story from 2022, Mr Dambo said he never intended his sculptures to last forever.
'The world has a problem in that it has an obsession with owning things and wanting them to last forever,' Mr Dambo told the Herald.
'As I am a recycle artist, why should I build sculptures that last forever? Who am I to say that people in the future should still look at some art I made back in 2022? I hope the future will have new artists doing new work with relevant things to say about their time.'
A city spokesperson said the intention was to maintain the safety of the Giants so they were fit for both their environment and the public's enjoyment.
'While there is no doubt that the Giants will return back to nature over time, given how loved they have become with both local resident and visitors alike, we want as many people as possible to get the opportunity to share in the wonder of these amazing sculptures, which is in line with the artist's expectation for the project,' the spokesperson said. The artist responsible for the giants, Thomas Dambo. Credit: Supplied
'The expected lifespan of Thomas Dambo's giants depend on environmental conditions, which differs in different locations around the world, with some sculptures lasting longer than others.
'While we're now approaching the three-year mark, regular inspections show that the sculptures are still in good condition,' the spokesperson added.
Mandurah mayor Caroline Knight said the City of Mandurah was incredibly proud of the Thomas Dambo Giants, and the joy they brought to our community and visitors, which was why repairs were being made to address the minor termite activity.
'Our partners at the Men's Shed do a fantastic job of regularly checking on the Giants,' she said. 'It was thanks to their diligence that we identified the problem and were able to address it quickly.
'We're committed to maintaining all of our Giants to the highest standard, ensuring they continue to be a unique and cherished part of Mandurah's appeal.
'She'll be back to her full beauty very soon.'