Big Swoop flies the coop: Giant magpie has moved to a new location

Big Swoop has flown to a new location in the City Centre ahead of the Garema Place upgrade.

Canberra's giant magpie by artist Yanni Pounartzis has taken take a short flight over to the entrance of the Monaro Mall in Petrie Plaza.

It, along with the other artworks in Garema Place, are being relocated as part of the upgrade. The movement of the artworks and hydro-excavation for service utility investigations are underway.

Big Swoop is now in Petrie Plaza. Picture by City Renewal Authority

The Garema Place work is being undertaken in sections and worksite fencing is in place. Any major demolition and construction works for the project are scheduled to begin in early 2025.

Here's where the other Garema Place artworks are headed:

The Cushion and the Wedge (including the This Place poem by Marion Halligan) will be revitalised and reinstalled in a new spot in Garema Place as part of the upgrade.

The three Poet's Corner busts will be relocated to the Glebe Park rotunda. The busts, by Cathy Weiszmann, are of Australian poets Judith Wright, A.D. Hope and David Campbell.

The Father and Son fountain will be returned to the National Capital Authority.

The Private Poetry and Reclamation: Culture Spirit and Place sculptures will be returned to artsACT.