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Variant titleA Waverley Library Local History FactsheetAuthor/CreatorWaverley LibraryContentsIn 1960, Bondi Beach witnessed the installation of the iconic Bondi Mermaid statues on the Big Rock at Ben Buckler. Sculpted by Lyall Randolph and modeled on two local women, Jan Carmody and Lynette Whillier, these mermaids quickly became beloved landmarks.
Tragedy struck in 1974 when Lynette was swept away by heavy seas, and Jan lost an arm and tail. Eventually forgotten in a council depot, Jan was rediscovered in the late 1980s, preserved, and now rests at Waverley Library, a testament to Bondi's enduring charm.CollectionLocal History Factsheets
Tragedy struck in 1974 when Lynette was swept away by heavy seas, and Jan lost an arm and tail. Eventually forgotten in a council depot, Jan was rediscovered in the late 1980s, preserved, and now rests at Waverley Library, a testament to Bondi's enduring charm.CollectionLocal History Factsheets
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OrganisationWaverley CouncilRelated placeBondi MermaidsSubject - Personal NameRandolph, LyallBondi MermaidsSubject - Topical NameSculpture and public artSubject - Geographical NameBondi BeachTaxonomySpecial Collections | Factsheets | Waverley People
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Bondi Mermaids: sirens of the sea. Waverley Council Library, accessed 16/01/2026, https://celebrating.waverley.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/40554