Apple and The Needle – Gregory Hills

Designed by Distinctive for Gregory Hills Public Art Project delivered by Dart West Developments.

The sculpture celebrates Marcellin Champagnat who’s life was a crusade to rescue poor children and help improve their lives through care and education. ⁠
There is a Marist legend regarding Champagnat and his teachings about spreading the word of god throughout the whole of the earth – represented by him in the form of a giant apple with a needle passing through it. The legend has it that in describing his desire to spread the word of god he demonstrated this by passing a needle through an apple, the needle entering the apple was France and coming out in the pacific region close to Australia and New Zealand. This legend is the inspiration for the artwork.⁠

‘Apple and The Needle’ is centered within Marcellin park amongst local native trees