Harmony of Minerals Obelisk

Harmony of minerals obelisk, Stirling Gardens, Perth, Western Australia

Public Art: Harmony of Minerals (aka Ore Tower, Stick of Stones)

Sculptors: © Paul Ritter & Ralph Hibble

Date: 1971-1972

Description: A 45 ft oil drill pipe with 15 different chunks of ores threaded onto it . Believe it or not I can name them and tell you where the chunks of ore came from in Western Australia. From top to bottom they are; Dodecahedron (Diamond) Kimberley Region, Magnesite (Magnesium) Ravensthorpe, Manganese Ore (Manganese) Woodie Woodie, Quartz Dolerite (Silver) Kalgoorlie, Cassiterite (Tin) Shaw River, Hematite (Iron) Mt Whaleback, Galena (Lead) Northampton, Supergene (Nickel) Kambalda, Nickel Sulphides (Nickel) Kambalda, Quartz Dolerite (Gold) Kalgoorlie, Spodumene (Lithium) Ravensthorpe, Bauxite (Aluminium) Jarrahdale, Chalcocite (Copper) Ravensthorpe, Jaspilite (Iron) Koolyanobbing, Azurite & Malachite (Copper) Thaduna and finally Hematite (Iron) Koolyanobbing.

Location: On the lawn in Stirling Gardens, St George's Terrace, Perth, Western Australia.

Commissioned and Sponsored By: Planned Environment & Educreation Institute, Alcoa, Argyle Diamond Mining, BP,Wapet, WMC Resources, Woodside Offshore and Paul Ritter.

History: The Minerals of Harmony Obelisk was erected in 1971 to celebrate the millionth citizen of Western Australia (I bet they were impressed). On the inscription it says "a graph and an annual plate is added each year indicating the relative economic importance from 1960 of the minerals of Western Australia". I wonder if that tradition has continued throughout the years ? In 1997 the Dodecahedron (Diamond) chunk was added to the top of the pole.

Inscriptions:

This ore obelisk is a symbol of the 1960-1970
decade of mineral expansion and was erected to
celebrate the millionth citizen of Western Australia.

The ore obelisk is the successful result of creative experiment in
co-ordinating the co-operative efforts of some fifty public and
private bodies by the Planned Enviroment & Educreational Research
P.E.E.R. Institute , Perth, W.A.
The base is a three dimensional graph and an annual plate is
added each year indicating the relative economic importance from
1960 of the minerals of Western Australia.

Unveiled by the Hon H.E. Graham MLA Deputy Premier.
Minister for Industrial Development & Decentralisation.
27-7-1971

Ore Obelisk 1972
Unveiled by the Hon H.E. Graham MLA.,
thanks to Sir thomas Wardle, Lord Mayor
to celebrate the millionth citizen
of Western Australia (1 per sq.mile)
& the harmony of mining & environment.
Design Paul Ritter City Planner.
Planned Environment & Educreation Inst.
co-ordinated 60 donors to the project.

Diamond Dodecahedron Addition - 1997
Unveiled by Lord Mayor Dr. P. Nattrass
from dizzy height on cherry picker.

Diamond Symbol Sculpture by
Paul Ritter & Ralph Hibble

Sponsors of the Harmony of Minerals Environmental Competition
Alcoa
Argyle Diamond Mining
BP
Wapet
WMC Resources
Woodside Offshore
Paul Ritter

Ore Tower, Harmony of minerals, Stirling Gardens, Perth, Western australia