When a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was installed in the Cambridge Town Hall recently, workers made a surprising discovery.
Cambridge Town Hall Trust general manager Simon Brew with the moulds and designer details found during renovations. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Down in the bowels of the building were moulds for the horse and foal statues outside the Town Hall on the Victoria St side of the building.
Alongside them was a piece of paper showing the sculptures and providing contact details for future restoration.
The 850kg bronze statues of the mare with a foal sitting at her feet fixed to a concrete pad has become a visitors’ delight with children and adults climbing all over them and thousands of photos a year taken.
Town Hall general manager Simon Brew said while he had no responsibility for the horse and foal, he did recognise it was now an integral part of the hall precinct.
The upgraded Victorian Room provided a perfect backdrop for the statue and photos, he said.
Thousands of photos are taken every year of visitors with the mare and foal outside Cambridge Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Commissioned by Waipā District Council to mark the central business district’s upgrade and unveiled in March 2004, the statue was funded with $129,000 in support from the Cambridge equine industry, local businesses and prominent identities.
The town is known for its thoroughbred horse studs and has produced many champion horses including Inter Dominion and Melbourne Cup winners.
The artist behind the sculpture, Michelle Farrell of Waiuku – known for her Celtic and Gaelic work – was commissioned to create the piece. It was her moulds that were found in the hall. When contacted for comment, Farrell declined and referred inquiries to the council.
With the HVAC system now occupying much of the hall’s storage space, Brew said the moulds would be returned to the council. Previously, the hall relied solely on underfloor gas heating, which made it uncomfortably warm during summer events.
“With this upgrade, we’re introducing full heating and cooling, making the space much more comfortable year-round. This is a game-changer for everyone who uses the hall. Keeping the venue at the right temperature will make a huge difference for our guests and the incredible artists who take the stage,” he said.
Although the statue’s 20th and 21st anniversaries passed without fanfare, Brew is keen to mark the occasion. “I’m sure we can have some sort of celebration,” he said.
- Have a photo with the horse and foal?
- Send your pictures and captions to [email protected] and go into the draw for a lucky prize!
Mare and foal, June 2025. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
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Thousands of photos are taken every year of visitors with the mare and foal outside Cambridge Town Hall and as interested onlookers during various protests. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
