Carlo Catani Memorial at Trafalgar

The Warragul Gazette of September 17, 2024 reported on the theft of several bronze plaques from around the Trafalgar area including the plaque honoring Carlo Catani and the memorial to the Moe Swamp pioneers, both attached to a rock plinth on Willow Grove Road. 

Carlo Catani (1852-1918) was the Chief Engineer of the Victorian Public Works Department and amongst his many responsibilities was the drainage  of the Moe Swamp. The Moe Swamp paralleled the main Gippsland railway line from Darnum to Moe.

The Catani memorial was the work of sculptor, Stanley Hammond (1913-2000) and was installed in 1988 by the Trafalgar Bicentennial Community Committee. 

The Carlo Catani  plaque, the work of Stanley Hammond, stolen in September 2024

Photo taken May 2021 and © VanishedVictoria

This is yet another example of the senseless, selfish and anti-social theft of public art and whilst it is relatively easy to replace the Moe Swamp plaque if the Catani memorial is not found, then a suitable replacement would be difficult and expensive to recreate.

If you have any information on this theft, please contact the Warragul Police on (03) 5622 7111.

The Catani  plaque and the Moe Swamp Pioneer's plaque.

Photo taken May 2021 and © VanishedVictoria

All that remains is the rock.

Photo taken September 2024 and © VanishedVictoria

More information on Carlo Catani's work on the Moe Swamp

https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/moe-swamp.html