Mazu - The Heavenly Queen
What:
Mazu - The Heavenly Queen
Where:
Walk from Newell's Paddock around the river under the train line
Related links:
Mazu on Wikipedia
When does a massive statue of a Chinese princess become an Aussie ‘big thing'? While some may argue the 16-metre high Mazu, on the banks of the Maribyrnong, is more deity than dugong, you can't say she's not a head turner.
As we all know, Mazu the woman, a.k.a. The Heavenly Queen, lived from 960-987 during the Sung Dynasty in China and has since been immortalised in thousands of gigantic statues worldwide, as one often is, for her work helping people. From a distance Mazu looks like a golden Chinese version of a Kinder Surprise figurine, or something you might see on top of your friend Ping's mum's TV. She's Australia's second Mazu (there's one in Sydney), and by all accounts she's better looking than the eye-sore wheel.
So, when you see Mazu from the window of your stalled Werribee or Sydenham line train you can now impress your fellow passengers with these facts: she's not Buddha; she was built in Nanjing; and she's erected on landfill made up of tannery and glue waste. Melbourne, look no further for your landmark.
Ambience: Outdoor
Difficulty: Won't hurt a bit
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