A giant bronze sculpture stolen from a Gold Beach, sparking a nationwide search, is being replaced by a lookalike.
The original Sun Spirit, a much-loved 100kg bronze sculpture of a bikini-clad beachgoer created by local artist Frank Miles, was stolen from its wooden platform in March.
While the original statue hasn’t been found, the replica – spotted by a fan in a Sydney property listing on Domain, has been donated to the Gold Coast community for the SWELL Sculpture Festival, which begins on Friday.
A replica of the stolen Sun Spirit statue is being installed on a Gold Coast beach. (Supplied)
The replica, one of only three casts of the famous statue, has been donated by its owners, Annette and Brett Straatemeier, and will be mounted in place of the original.
They made the donation in return for a $50,000 fundraiser for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Gold Coast City Councillor Gail O’Neill says the community was shocked by the theft of the original artwork but delighted to have the replica.
“Sun Spirit was a much-loved fixture on the Currumbin foreshore and we were all devastated when she was stolen,” she said.
“We worked closely with the previous owner to ensure this edition was brought back to the Gold Coast.”
Artist Frank Miles. (Supplied)
The council paid for the replica to be transported from NSW to the Gold Coast.
Miles says it was “heartbreaking” to have three of his works stolen and a fourth damaged.
“I created only three casts of this statue. Each one is unique, and to have one returned in such an extraordinary way feels like a small miracle,” he said.
Miles first displayed Sun Spirit as part of the inaugural Swell Sculpture Festival in 2006 before the council acquired the work.