NewsProperty News
news, property-news,
YOU'RE not dreaming – a life-sized statue of Darryl Kerrigan has appeared on a Beechworth hillside. The timber carving of the star of The Castle, AKA actor Michael Caton, is standing like a guard in front of the original house from the 1997 film. The home had been lying in four bits at Mayday Hills since arriving from Melbourne last December, but three of the plastic-encased sections have now been joined and put on stilts. Mayday Hills owner George Fendyk plans to incorporate the house in a caravan park and he said the giant Darryl will greet visitors at the entrance. "That's going to be the centrepiece, it's a beauty," Mr Fendyk said. The carving, which has the words 'the serenity' on its base, is the creation of Beechworth chainsaw artist Kevin Duffy. "It's probably one of the better ones I've done," Mr Duffy said. "Not having a model and getting the right proportions is hard. "I just went off photos." The pine carving was done at night over several weeks. Mr Duffy has done other pieces for Mr Fendyk and previously worked for him. His works have included grizzly bears, cigar store American Indians and eagles with many on private properties in the Beechworth district. After attaching the last section of the house, Mr Fendyk said new trusses would be used as part of adding the roof before wiring and plumbing is completed. Mr Fendyk has submitted a planning application to Indigo Shire officers for his caravan park. It includes 31 tourist cabins, 12 permanent residential cabins, 46 standard van sites, 21 drive-through spots and 10 camping areas. Councillors are yet to be briefed on the application, which will be decided by them if it is formally opposed by community members. Mr Fendyk hopes that the first guests will arrive around Easter next year. "By Christmas we should have something that looks like a caravan park and by Easter we should be up and running," he said. However, like the fictional suburban battler Darryl Kerrigan, who took on airport developers in a High Court challenge, Mr Fendyk knows he's being ambitious. "You know what dreams are like," he said. "There's a long way between a cup and the lip they tell me."
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/7b5721a6-a488-4484-b8f7-15439d1c5420.jpg/r0_118_4928_2902_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
July 9 2018 - 3:30PM
Film favourite from The Castle, Darryl Kerrigan, has been immortalised in timber as part of Beechworth caravan park development
Anthony Bunn
YOU'RE not dreaming – a life-sized statue of Darryl Kerrigan has appeared on a Beechworth hillside.
The timber carving of the star of The Castle, AKA actor Michael Caton, is standing like a guard in front of the original house from the 1997 film.
The home had been lying in four bits at Mayday Hills since arriving from Melbourne last December, but three of the plastic-encased sections have now been joined and put on stilts.
Mayday Hills owner George Fendyk plans to incorporate the house in a caravan park and he said the giant Darryl will greet visitors at the entrance.
"That's going to be the centrepiece, it's a beauty," Mr Fendyk said.
The carving, which has the words 'the serenity' on its base, is the creation of Beechworth chainsaw artist Kevin Duffy.
"It's probably one of the better ones I've done," Mr Duffy said.
Cut out: Kevin Duffy with his carving of actor Michael Caton as Darryl Kerrigan. Picture: MARK JESSER
"Not having a model and getting the right proportions is hard.
"I just went off photos."
The pine carving was done at night over several weeks.
Mr Duffy has done other pieces for Mr Fendyk and previously worked for him.
His works have included grizzly bears, cigar store American Indians and eagles with many on private properties in the Beechworth district.
Flashback: Michael Caton as he appeared in The Castle in 1997. He was nominated for an AFI for his performance.
After attaching the last section of the house, Mr Fendyk said new trusses would be used as part of adding the roof before wiring and plumbing is completed.
Mr Fendyk has submitted a planning application to Indigo Shire officers for his caravan park.
It includes 31 tourist cabins, 12 permanent residential cabins, 46 standard van sites, 21 drive-through spots and 10 camping areas.
Councillors are yet to be briefed on the application, which will be decided by them if it is formally opposed by community members.
Mr Fendyk hopes that the first guests will arrive around Easter next year.
"By Christmas we should have something that looks like a caravan park and by Easter we should be up and running," he said.
However, like the fictional suburban battler Darryl Kerrigan, who took on airport developers in a High Court challenge, Mr Fendyk knows he's being ambitious.
"You know what dreams are like," he said.
"There's a long way between a cup and the lip they tell me."
You can now receive updates straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here​