Pediment

Pediment

Daphne Mayo's tympanum above the King George Square entrance to the Brisbane City Hall
The sculptured pediment above the portico and entrance, known as the tympanum, was carved by Brisbane sculptor Daphne Mayo in the early 1930s. There is some controversy surrounding the theme of the tympanum, which depicts the settlement of Queensland.

The gown-clad female figure in the centre depicts "progress" or "enlightenment", while settlers with their cattle and explorers with their horses, move out from under her protecting arms to claim the land from the indigenous people and native animals, who are represented by two aboriginal males crouching in the left hand corner, and a fleeing kangaroo.

To the right corner one can see a young European male and female, adjoined by a sheep and a row of books and an artist's palette representing the new European nation, agriculture and civilisation. The tympanum measures 16.5 metres (54 ft) long with a height of 3 metres (9.8 ft) at its centre. The sculpture was unveiled eight months after the building was officially opened.

King George Square, Brisbane

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