Adam G The Public Purse is a sculpture, a large piece of public/pop art, located on the pavement, on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets in front of H&M at the Melbourne GPO. This is a busy corner in the heart of Melbournes Bourke Street Mall shopping district and its for this reason that to me the purse symbolises shopping and perhaps that some lady dropped her purse.
The purse is so large that you just cannot miss seeing it when walking past or going past on a tram. For newcomers to the city, it intrigues and they have to take photos of it and touch it. Many just sit and rest on it. Also, very much like the "Under the clocks" (on the steps of Flinders Street Railway Station) or the Melbourne Central Clock, the purse is often used as a meeting point, "Ill meet you at the purse".
"The Public Purse" was created by sculptor Simon Perry and installed on this busy shopping corner in 1994. Its made out of Calca red granite and stainless steel, and is in the shape of a coin purse. Its a very unique and distinctive work of art. Love it!!!
It doesnt open but rumour has it that when Perry made the purse he slipped a time capsule and a real coin purse with a few coins inside it.
5 /5