Cultural support & funding

Ibero American Plaza

Sculptures acknowledging the contribution of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking people to the history of Australia.

Related to City Art
6 individual busts carved in alabaster each on top of a sandstone base and arranged in a arc at the top of small steps.

About this program

First conceived in 1986 as a bicentennial project, the Ibero American Plaza began as an idea to acknowledge the contribution of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking people to the history of Australia. It was opened in 1988 and remodelled in 2000 and again in 2019 as part of the Sydney light rail project.

The plaza on Chalmers Street in Surry Hills is home to 11 busts and 2 statues representing significant historical figures and Latin American national heroes. The busts were donated by nations including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, the Philippines, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay and Venezuela.

A bronze fountain sculpture resembling two oversized bangala, baskets for carrying water made from palm fronds. They are in a rocky area surrounded by foliage, and there is a paved area with umbrellas in the background.City Art
A fish hook shaped sculpture on the grass with the harbour bridge in the background.Sculptures
A stone monument at night. The monument has an ornate structure topped with a dome, with several busts and sculptures adorning its sides. It is lit from within.Monuments & memorials