Thornton Monument

Unique IDPC-000013Alternative titleHyde Park ObeliskThornton's Scent BottleMayor's PillarDescriptionThornton Monument is a 22 metre Egyptian style obelisk in Hyde Park, at the top of Bathurst Street on Elizabeth Street in Sydney. The obelisk is decorated with sphinxes and serpents with a filigree bronze pyramid on the top, being modelled on Cleopatra's Needle on the banks of the Thames River in London. Commissioned by Mayor George Thornton (1819-1901), it bears a plaque: 'Erected A.D. 1857 George Thornton Mayor'.

The structure was built by the Department of Public Works as ventilation for the sewers. The idea was that the gases from the sewer would 'be so impregnated with, or so diffused amongst, the atmosphere that they could exercise no prejudicial effect or unpleasantness whatsoever' (see letter at A-00445175). However, there was some smell and it was jokingly referred to as 'Thornton's scent bottle'. For example, in a letter of complaint received in 1860, it was described as having 'nauseating stench' (see letter at A-00292857).

The structure was lit up for the visit of the American Fleet in 1908 with 650 coloured electric bulbs.

On World AIDS Day in 2014 the monument was wrapped in a giant hot pink condom as part of a public health campaign. It was added again for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2016 as a safe sex reminder.

The obelisk is still standing in its original location. It is no longer a sewer vent but is a vent for stormwater.Subject tagsObeliskHeritage statusState heritage register

Photograph

Hyde Park obelisk, Bathurst Street Sydney, 2009

Thornton Monument ventilation shaft, Elizabeth Street Sydney, no date

Streetscape and roadworks, Bathurst Street Sydney, 1956

New bus shelter on Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1987

Thornton Monument in Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street, Sydney, 1986

Thornton Monument, Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1986

Thornton Monument in Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, circa 2001

Hyde Park obelisk (sewer vent) Elizabeth Street Sydney, 2001

Corner of Elizabeth Street and Liverpool Street, Sydney, 1912

Anzac Memorial and Pool of Reflection in Hyde Park, Liverpool Street Sydney, 1940s

Ventilator shaft, Thornton Monument, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1983

Obelisk on the edge of Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1910

Thornton Monument, Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1960s

Aerial view of Hyde Park South, circa 1950s

Thornton Monument, corner of Elizabeth Street and Bathurst Street Sydney, 1970s

Thornton Monument, Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, circa 1970s

Thornton Monument, corner of Bathurst Street and Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1954

Detail from Thornton Monument, corner of Elizabeth Street and Bathurst Street Sydney, 1984

Item

Letter - Request to paint obelisk in Hyde Park, 1896

Letter - Questions regarding ornamental obelisk at Hyde Park, 1896

Letter - Complaint of effluvia from obelisk, Hyde Park, 1860

Letter - Erect ornamental shaft in Hyde Park for ventilating sewers, 1857

File - Approval for work to be carried out in illuminating ventilating obelisk in Hyde Park, 1908

File - Condition of Thornton Monument (sewer vent obelisk) in Hyde Park, 1905

Plan

Plan - The Obelisk conservation, Hyde Park Monuments project, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1990

Thornton Monument, Hyde Park, Elizabeth Street Sydney, 1960s (A-00016089)

Key dates and actions

Date commissionedBetween 1st January 1857 and 12th July 1857Date constructed/createdBetween 1st January 1857 and 12th July 1857Date openedBetween 1st January 1857 and 12th July 1857

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Thornton Monument