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The Big Powerful Owl is a sculpture 8 m (26 ft) tall, designed by Bruce Armstrong, in the Belconnen District of Canberra, Australia; it depicts a powerful owl (Ninox strenua).

Built in 2011, it is one of the numerous Australia's big things, with this being only one of many in the ACT.

Reception

The shape of the owl has been criticised for its phallic shape, however, it remains a tourist attraction, with Tara Cheyne calling it a "must see". The work has been nicknamed the "penis owl", "the Great Penis Owl of Belconnen", and "the Great Penis Owl of Canberra".

The statue has also been prone to graffiti; the ACT government had to spend A$3000 on cleaning it.

References

1. ^ Burgess, Katie (18 July 2017). "ACT government to install CCTV cameras to stop vandalism of the Belconnen Owl". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
2. Directorate, ACT Government (29 November 2018). "Owl". www.arts.act.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
3. Grenkowitz, Max (2010). "Big Things in Australia: ACT, NT, TAS". max.grenkowitz.net. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
4. Earthwanderer, Emma (18 December 2020). "130+ 'Big Things' NSW & ACT". myrigadventures.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
5. Reinfrank, Alkira (28 April 2016). "Where does our public art come from?". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
6. ^ Molloy, Shannon (28 December 2019). "From the 'Penis Owl' to the stolen bull testicles, these are Australia's strangest statues". news.com.au. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
7. Warden, Ian (10 August 2019). "Freudian fears of brave public art". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
8. Black, Michael (16 November 2018). "Canberra's notorious penis owl may have some stiff competition". ABC News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
9. "Covid-19 coronavirus: ACT reopening overshadowed by 'penis bird' photo". The New Zealand Herald. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
10. Grey, Dylan; Bage, Pettie (24 March 2017). "Parmageddon: Taking Pub Cuisine by the Antlers". Woroni. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
11. "The ACT Is Celebrating Queensland's Borders Reopening To Canberrans With A Surfing…. Penis". www.pedestrian.tv. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
12. Ridge, Lucy (18 March 2020). "The Best Things To Do and See in Belconnen, Canberra". theculturetrip.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.

35°14′51″S 149°04′03″E / 35.24759°S 149.06752°E / -35.24759; 149.06752

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• Australian Megasculptures
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• Public art in the Australian Capital Territory
• Big things in Australian Capital Territory
• Sculptures of owls
• Animal sculptures in Australia
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