A new installation at the The Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Knockrow is the latest in Australia’s enduring love for oversized icons.
An eight-metre sulphur-crested cockatoo sculpture has a new perch along the stunning vista overlooking Lennox and Broken Head.
The wildlife sanctuary say the award-winning work has been gifted to them by long-time Northern Rivers resident, Mary O’Connor.
They say Crackers (soon to be renamed Fred) was created by artist Andrew Cullen, and ‘first captured hearts at the 2021 Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk, where it won First Prize (Top Perch Award)’.
The media release says, ‘Originally carved from 100% recycled timber at six metres tall, the sculpture was later rebuilt in recycled steel to ensure longevity and reimagined as an interactive climbing space for children’.
‘From Brunswick, Crackers became a fixture at Torakina Park, before moving to O’Connor’s 35-acre property – fondly known as the Tree of Life – just minutes from the Sanctuary. There, it became an unofficial “Big Thing” in its own right, with countless travellers stopping for photos.
‘Now, with a fresh coat of paint and a new name, Fred begins a new chapter — paying tribute to the Sanctuary’s famous talking cockatoo, whose passing in 2025 touched the hearts of staff, visitors and locals alike’.
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