Greythorn features a series of chainsaw-carved statues created by the late Angela Polglaze in 2000, known as the Greythorn Icons. Located in front of the fire station, these sculptures—depicting a shopping lady, baker, fireman, dog, and lollipop lady—had no signage or plaque explaining their history, the artist, or their significance to Greythorn.
In 2019, Boroondara City Council invested nearly $1 million to upgrade gardens and footpaths at Greythorn Central, creating gathering places furnished with seating. However, five old directional signage poles with deteriorating paddles remained, looking shabby against the newly refurbished landscape.
Greythorn Marketing Coordinator Yolanda Torrisi proposed recreating Greythorn’s history through new wooden sculptures to complement the existing Icons. The Greythorn Traders Association applied for a $10,000 community grant and co-funded the project to engage professional consultants for historical research. Each statue would feature a plaque telling its story and connection to Greythorn’s past.
The project aimed to create sculptures representing typical North Balwyn people or businesses, positioned at the signage poles to create an interesting journey through the shopping strip—a juxtaposition of today’s shopping directory with statues representing the people who built Greythorn.
Strong Leadership to Overcome Challenges and Stakeholder Engagement
Yolanda Torrisi had been Marketing Coordinator for Greythorn Central for seven years when she led the Faces of Greythorn project. An entrepreneurial businesswoman known for successfully delivering creative business ventures, Yolanda’s strong community spirit drove her to create a historical journey of Greythorn’s development—a place that is neither a precinct nor a suburb, has no postcode, yet is distinctly iconic within its 1 square kilometre area of North Balwyn.
The Greythorn Traders Association embraced the idea and the project began.
The journey took three years (including two years of COVID delays) to deliver the project. The Greythorn Traders Association funded 90% of the project, with 10% provided by a City of Boroondara Community Strengthening grant.
Selecting a curator and researcher was imperative to ensure accuracy and develop the historical narrative. The team sought someone local to North Balwyn, and through a business owner’s connection, met Anne Carew, who had the qualifications and local passion needed to research Greythorn’s history.
For the sculptor, the team needed someone sympathetic to Angela Polglaze’s work. They were introduced to Shlomit Moria of Bushwood Creations, a chainsaw sculptor who proved perfect for the project.
Any project on state and council-controlled lands requires permits and stakeholder engagement. Yolanda prepared submissions for City of Boroondara and VicRoads to approve the location, height and size of the statues. While VicRoads’ response was outstandingly quick, council permitting proved more protracted.
The Faces of Greythorn book, set for publication the following year, would provide comprehensive history. In the meantime, visitors could read about Greythorn’s development on the Greythorn Central website, with plaques at each statue providing historical snapshots.
The statues were designed to transport visitors through time—rekindling fond memories for those who grew up in the area, while immersing new visitors in Greythorn’s story.
Six larger-than-life statues dotted along Greythorn Central chronicle the area’s history and development:
They now join the Greythorn Icons—the fireman, baker, lollipop lady, shopper and dog—which have stood in front of the fire station since September 2000.
Greythorn’s history is as rich as it is diverse. From highly productive citrus orchards in the 1900s, to a violet farm and koala sanctuary, through to the 1950s when fashionable women made Greythorn famous for high fashion, couture and coiffures, the area has grown into a thriving shopping and community hub attracting families from around the world to this prized location in Melbourne’s inner eastern leafy suburbs.
The six statues required transportation from Warragul to Greythorn. The team engaged a road and civil contractor with the expertise and VicRoads accreditation to undertake the installation.
After seeking three tenders and receiving one quote from Roadside Services and Solutions, they proceeded with the engagement. The contractor handled all council and VicRoads permitting requirements for civil works, road closures and installation, executing the work with outstanding expertise.
A mini Autumn Festival was organised for Saturday, 21 May 2022 (Federal Election Day) to launch the Faces of Greythorn statues.
A formal launch was held at the Albert and Maddie statue, representing First Nations People. Following the launch, face painters, balloon artists and musicians entertained crowds who walked the shopping strip to visit each statue.
The statues attracted significant interest and media attention. David Astle of ABC Radio Evenings ran a segment featuring an interview with Yolanda Torrisi (available at greythorncentral.com.au), and coverage appeared in the May edition of Eastsider News.
For more information contact:
Yolanda Torrisi
Marketing Coordinator
Greythorn Central Shopping Centre
