Old cycle an eye-catcher

Jaquie Webby | Friday, January 27, 2012 9:49

Tall cyclist: The soon-to-be steampunked cyclist who will sit aboard his penny farthing bike at the Friendly Bay Carnivale site. Photo: Jacquie Webby.

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Oamaru's Friendly Bay Carnivale penny farthing cycle and rider are bound to capture the eye when they are finally installed at their new home.

Designer and builder Don Paterson has worked solidly for many months designing and constructing the elements of the penny farthing exhibit with his hard work now bearing fruit.

Waitaki District Council property manager Dougal McIntyre said the council was trying to get as much as possible finished in readiness for Waitangi weekend.

" February will be very exciting," Mr McIntyre said.

"The footings for the penny farthing and rider are due to be poured and the story boards and seating are also well under way."

Once erected, the penny farthing and its rider are expected to be a major focus of the Carnivale park.

The rider alone stands over 1.98m and is likely to catch the eye when he is fitted to his bike. He is clad in clothing appropriate to the Victorian era, including a bowler hat, all of which will be "steampunked" (the use of paraphernalia from the age of steam in a science fiction style) to complement other exhibits.

Plans to revitalise the Oamaru Harbour with the inclusion of the Friendly Bay Carnivale were approved by the Waitaki District Council early last year.

The inspired playscape features designs by Mr Paterson, a noted North Otago sculptor and artist, and will soon include a steampunked elephant, complete with a slide, a giant crab, clowns and a penny farthing plus rider.

The artworks will be gradually rolled out for placement at the park, and the aim of the WDC is to turn the esplanade into a destination for visitors, recapturing the days of the Friendly Bay Carnivale with contemporary steampunk glamour.