The Discobolus Monument at Sydney Olympic Park – a landmark of Greek heritage and Olympic spirit – is now under consideration for inclusion on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
On 5 August 2025, the Heritage Council of NSW resolved to begin the process of listing the monument, recognising its associative, aesthetic and social values to the people of NSW.
Created by acclaimed Australian artist Robert Owen, the monument was installed in Stockroute Park ahead of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as part of the Hellenic Tribute Trilogy, honouring the Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics.
Entirely funded by Greek Australians with support from the Greek Government and the Olympic Coordination Authority, the installation has since become one of the largest Greek Australian monuments in the country.
This latest development comes after The Greek Herald reported in November 2024 that the Discobolus Monument faced potential demolition, as outlined in the NSW Government’s Sydney Olympic Park Draft Master Plan 2050.
While the Sydney Olympic Park Authority has since assured the community that the monument will not be demolished or disposed of inappropriately, it has confirmed that relocation within Sydney Olympic Park remains on the table, with any move to be made in consultation with the community and designed to “respect the original intent of the artist and the Greek community.”
Heritage listing would ensure the monument’s cultural significance is formally recognised and strengthen protections for how it is treated in the future. Public submissions on the proposed listing are open until 11 October 2025 via the NSW Government’s Have Your Say portal.
What is the Sydney Olympic Park Discobolus Monument?
The Sydney Olympic Park Discobolus Monument is a unique sculptural installation by artist and academic Robert Owen. It was funded by the Hellenes of Australia and the Diaspora and gifted to Australia at the time of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The gift was the brainchild of the late Tasha Vanos OAM and was realised through the efforts of Hellenic Tribute Inc. The installation forms part of a trilogy with the Discobolus monuments in Atlanta and Athens.
The monument consists of several pieces reminiscent of Ancient Olympia. Its centrepiece is the disc thrown by the ancient Discus Thrower, symbolically landing in 21st-century Sydney.
It is installed across the surface of Stockroute Park, a landscape that fuses the primordial elements of Greece and Australia. The park itself is planted with olives and cypress pines, interspersed among the original eucalypts.
Why does the Discobolus Monument need to be listed as a heritage item?
It is the largest Greek Australian monument and was gifted to Australia to remain here in perpetuity. The monument symbolises the friendship between Greece and Australia and highlights the central role of sport in both nations. It also serves as a reminder of the contribution of Hellenic culture to New South Wales and to Australia more broadly, while demonstrating what the Greek community can achieve when united.
The Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan ignores it
The proposed Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan does not show Stockroute Park as green open space, and the Discobolus Monument is not mentioned. This omission places the monument at risk of being lost or damaged. Heritage listing would provide additional protection and assist in its long-term conservation.
Is it a moveable work of art?
The Discobolus Monument encompasses the entire Stockroute Park, located near the station in the middle of Sydney Olympic Park. The park itself is a remnant of the site’s former use as an abattoir. Today, the original eucalypts stand alongside planted olives and cypress pines, forming a cultural landscape that hosts Castor’s disc, stone relics, memory stones commemorating donors, and a buried time capsule yet to be opened.
Because the whole park is the monument, relocation without damage would require moving the entire surface of the park. For this reason, the entire site must be conserved.
What can be done?
Public support is essential. Online submissions to support heritage listing can be made at NSW Government Have Your Say before 11 October 2025.
If you cannot make an online submission, you can write to:
Heritage Council of NSW
Locked Bag 5020
Parramatta NSW 2124
Alternatively, you can sign a pre-prepared letter at one of the community events or contact Mary Nagle for assistance on 02 8551 2778 or mary@oconnellsolicitors.com
Public submissions on the proposed listing are open until 11 October 2025 via the NSW Government’s “Have Your Say” portal. Submit your application here.
