23-04-2025
Incredible twist in case of missing Gold Coast bronze statue after it was ‘found' at home in Sydney
The Gold Coast's missing Sun Spirit bronze statue is still missing, following reports it was spotted at a Sydney home.
The Sun Spirit is a bronze statue of a bikini-clad woman relaxing in the sun and sat atop a wooden box on Currumbin Beach, on Queensland's Gold Coast for almost two decades since being purchased in 2006.
Last month, the statue was stolen from its spot and a widespread search for it was launched.
Gold Coasters hopes were raised when a real estate agent spotted the statue at a Sydney home tour.
On Wednesday, Gold Coast reporter Georgia Costi spoke of the possible find.
'A Gold Coast real estate agent has posted on social media that she was browsing online when she came across a listing in Sydney's Northern Beaches that appears to show a very, very, very similar-looking statue sitting around the pool,' Costi said.
But hopes were quickly dashed as sculptor Frank Miles told ABC Coast FM that he made two other replicas.
Miles confirmed he had kept a replica for himself and his own family. The artist also ruled out any more replicas, saying the Sun Spirit mould was accidentally broken.
The statue, which was purchased for $20,000, stands 1.6m tall.
It had proved popular with locals and tourists alike, with many stopping to take photos of it.
Locals initially thought it was removed as a safety precaution as the region prepared for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, only for Gold Coast Council to announce it was missing and likely stolen.
Previously, Costi had interviewed local man Nick Atkinson at Currumbin Beach, who offered two cartons of beer for anyone who has information leading to its return.
'(It's) unreal. Everyone's devo,' Atkinson told Costi.
'It would have been a significant effort, just picking it up... even grinding it.
'Someone must have seen something. I feel like the sparks and sound, someone knows something about where this (statue) is and I'm going to find it today.
'I've got a carton of beer on offer and a sponsor has just come in and said they're going to throw in another one.
'So, there's two cartons of beer for anyone who gives me info to find this thing.'
