No sound reason to change Cowes Harmony Bells, they say

LIKE Melbourne’s infamous ‘Vault’ sculpture, the nickname of which you’re probably not allowed to say anymore, and Bruce Armstrong’s controversial ‘Belconnen Owl’ in Canberra, the Cowes’ Harmony Bells are a piece of public art that just keeps on giving.

And they were the subject of a question to the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting last Wednesday by Darren Callesen asking: “Why have we silenced the voice of our village?"

Created for the Bass Coast Shire Council, at a cost of $60,000 by renown sculptor Dr Anton Hassell, the bells attracted some controversy ahead of their installation in 2012, in the gardens between the old heritage centre and shire offices in Cowes.

But the four brass bells, one of them weighing 60kg, were stolen in July 2021 and only narrowly missed being shipped to China as a result of the prompt action and superb detective work of local police.

They also recovered the cherished Kongwak Fire Brigade bell, stolen on the same night.

Police searched a property at Lang Lang which led them to a scrap metal dealer in Dandenong where the Kilcunda bell was recovered.

Senior Constable Varli Blake said police were then able to track the Cowes bells to Port Melbourne where they found them in a shipping crate bound for China.

"They had it waiting on the dock but due to the COVID lockdown that we had that week it put them back five days," Senior Constable Blake told the ABC.

So, what was lost almost wasn’t saved.

Disturbed by the theft at the time, Hassell told the Bass Coast Post he was at a loss to say why someone would do such a thing.

“I didn’t sleep very well thinking there are people in the world with such base desires. Maybe in our highly individualistic society what is collectively owned is not valued by some people," he said.

When they were taken, the bells were stripped of their gold ornamentation and there was an additional cost while the council worked with the artist to restore them to their former glory.

The context of Mr Callesen’s question is ‘why can’t we hear the bells’?

“Good afternoon, everybody. I'd like to thank the mayor, deputy mayor, and all the councillors of the Bass Coast Shire Council for accepting my questions. I previously asked why the Cowes’ Harmony Bells have been effectively silenced, and I received a rather unsatisfactory answer,” he said.

“Why have we silenced the voice of our village? These very expensive bells are being damaged due to being hit with inappropriate objects. It's not on. Why can't we fit mallets?

“My second question is: If mallets will not be fitted to the world-famous Cowes’ Harmony Bells, due to them being too close to the theatre, why don't we relocate them to a more suitable site?

“It is sad that such a stunning sound sculpture has been silenced. It is made to be played.”

But, according to the council, the bells won’t have a mechanism for ringing out their sound anytime soon, some might say "thank goodness".

“Through the mayor, council acknowledges the community interest in hearing and interacting with the Harmony Bells, but as previously advised, following consultation with the artist, there are no plans to alter the installation or to relocate the Harmony Bells,” said CEO Greg Box on behalf of the council.

Having dismissed that suggestion, the council might like to make some inquiries about what happened to the ‘David Fincher bench’, a lovely piece of art that really meant something to the people of Phillip Island but went missing during demolition of the old community centre.

Dave Fincher, in whose name a prestigious memorial trophy is awarded by the Phillip Island Boardriders each year, has a number of works dotted around the island including the surfer sculpture at Newhaven.

Australia's top 10 controversial public artworks

1. Vault (The Yellow Peril) — Melbourne, Victoria (1980). Artist: Ron Robertson-Swann.

1. Bayshore Drive Lighthouse (The Disco Dong) — Byron Bay, NSW (2018). Artist: Corey Thomas.
2. Liz and Phil Down by the Lake — Canberra, ACT (1995). Artist: Greg Taylor.
3. Yagan Memorial Statue — Perth, WA (1984). Artist: Robert Hitchcock
4. Stones Against the Sky (Poo on sticks) — Kings Cross, Sydney, NSW. Artist: Ken Unsworth.
5. Cast in Blue (The Blue Blob) — Mount Gambier, SA (2025). Artist: Huna Studio.
6. Rhizome (Blown up bush shelter) — Canberra, ACT (2007).
7. Captain Cook Statue — Sydney, NSW (1879). Artist: Thomas Woolner.
8. The Spheres (Mall's Balls) — Adelaide, SA (1977). Artist: Bert Flugelman.
9. Cloud Arch (The Tapeworm) — Sydney, NSW. Artist: Junya Ishigami.
10. Cloud Arch (The Tapeworm) — Sydney, NSW. Artist: Junya Ishigami.