A HISTORIC weathervane is believed to have been stolen from the Mission to Seafarers Victoria building in Docklands, Melbourne.
Made by master craftsman Henry Alfred Saw in 1917, the copper weathervane is heritage-listed along with the building itself, which was built around the same time using funds raised by the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild.
The weathervane had sat on the rooftop of the building for more than a century but needed repairs after years of exposure to the weather.
In 2020, the weathervane was restored through a grant from the Victorian Heritage Restoration Fund, along with private and public contributions.
Mission to Seafarers Victoria CEO Sue Dight said the weathervane had remained in its rightful position on the roof until the night of Saturday 5 March, when it was allegedly stolen.
“The weathervane is unusually intricate and represents the high levels of both craftmanship and artistry,” Ms Dight said.
“The way the metal of the sails curve as though billowing in the wind, the bulging hull of the ship, and the delicate rigging details make it quite a special object for something that is also structurally robust, and was intended to serve use as a meteorological instrument.”
Ms Dight has issued an urgent appeal to the police, the public, and the maritime community to be on lookout for the iconic weathervane and to come forward with any information on its whereabouts.
