We are presenting this Save the Kebab petition, a formal inked petition (details below),  and we will be asking questions at the City Of Perth Ordinary Council Meeting this Tuesday 25 March at 5pm. 

We’d love to see as many people as possible there to make it clear - the community wants greater transparency and integrity for the City’s public art and its funding. 

Have your say at Public Question Time or show your support by being in the room. 

Join us!

4:45pm for the 5:00pm Council Meeting

Tuesday 25 March 2025

Council Chamber, Level 9
Council House
27 St Georges Terrace, Perth

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#savethekebab 

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FORMAL PETITION TO COUNCIL

To the Lord Mayor and Councillors of the City of Perth, we, the undersigned, do respectfully request that the Council: 

1. Restore, or interpret Paul Ritter’s ‘The Obelisk’ at its original location in Stirling Gardens.
2. Commission Lorenna Grant to restore or reconceptualise ‘The Arch’ at its original location in Northbridge.
3. Send the ‘Boonji Spaceman’back to the US or at least find another site that is not Perth’s oldest garden.
4. Ensure any future acquisition complies with Public Art Policy (CP 4.8) and is endorsed by the Culture and Arts Advisory Group and Elders Advisory Group. 
    

Why This Matters

The Save the Kebab campaign urges the City of Perth to restore and reinstate The Obelisk, a significant public artwork affectionately known as "the kebab." This campaign raises serious concerns over the City’s decision to replace this historically significant piece with Boonji Spaceman—a mass-produced sculpture by American artist Brendan Murphy—at a cost of $250,000 to ratepayers.

Under the City’s own Public Art Policy (CP 4.8), mass-produced artworks do not qualify for acquisition. This decision disregards policies on originality, local artist engagement, and heritage conservation, as well as consultation with advisory groups.

Created by Paul Ritter in 1971 to celebrate WA’s mining heritage, The Obelisk was removed in 2021 with assurances it would return—yet it now faces permanent replacement. 

Similarly, The Arch by Lorenna Grant was removed with no reinstatement plan. We call on the City to restore these works, honour its policies, and protect Perth’s cultural identity.

By signing this petition, we call on the City of Perth to:
✔️ Preserve our city’s cultural identity
✔️ Uphold its own public art policies
✔️ Restore and maintain significant local artworks
✔️ Ensure public funds are spent responsibly and transparently