City animals: Porcine volunteer Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
By
The Spindoctors on 31-Jan-12. Waypoint GA3362
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Virtual |
| Container: | Virtual |
| Coordinates: | S33° 52.072' E151° 12.745' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 334655E 6251056N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 36 m |
| Local Government Area: | Sydney |
/151.212417,-33.867867,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
One of Sydney's most touched animals.
This bronze sculpture of a boar is named 'Il Porcellino' and was donated to the people of Sydney by The Marchesa Fiaschi (Clarissa) Torrigiani of Florence, Italy on 16 December 1968. It was in honour of Clarissa's father Thomas and brother Piero, who both worked as surgeons at Sydney Hospital.
The statue forms a water feature/fountain which people drop coins into. The money collected is donated to local hospitals. During the year he is dressed in various garlands and head costumes.
More information can be found on the NSW Health website.
So come down and rub his nose, drop in a coin, make a wish and log a find. But before you do, you must email The Spindoctors with your answers to the following questions. Include a photo of Il Porcellino with or without you after you submit your log.
- What street is Il Porcellino looking down?
- Name two types of animals at the base of the scuplture?
- Who was the Town Clerk when the sculpture was presented?
Good luck.
Logs
Further down the road here.
I stopped for the lucky charm nose rub.
Then I did a little light reading.
Then it was time to take a photo.
TFTV
I stopped for the lucky charm nose rub.
Then I did a little light reading.
Then it was time to take a photo.
TFTV
Rated: for Overall Experience
Down in Sydney City to see the Phantom of the Opera for our 10th anniversary and we (mostly Dad) couldn't resist the urge to grab some virtual caches on the way.
Not the kind of creature we would expect to be immortalised or even given as a gift. Especially since it specifically states that it is a wild boat, not just a pig.
I wonder if it was related to Rudolph with that nose.
Thanks for the place to visit.
Not the kind of creature we would expect to be immortalised or even given as a gift. Especially since it specifically states that it is a wild boat, not just a pig.
I wonder if it was related to Rudolph with that nose.
Thanks for the place to visit.
Watawieh from Norfolk Island, South Pacific.
I did not expect to be in Sydney this week, but here I am and with some spare time to find GCA caches
I did not expect to be in Sydney this week, but here I am and with some spare time to find GCA caches
This was next on my morning stroll around the area this morning and after waiting out a few muggles taking pickies, I grabbed the required info at about 10:00 and continued on my merry way.
Thanks again The Spindoctors.
Thanks again The Spindoctors.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I was in the city today and due to a delay needed to fill in some time. What better way to fill in time then to collect a few GCA caches. This was the last find for the day, very easy to locate. This is an impressive statue! I made my gold coin donation and gave his nose a rub and was indeed granted my wish!!
Thanks for the great virtual The Spindoctors. I will have to search out the others in this series!
GCA Find #154
Thanks for the great virtual The Spindoctors. I will have to search out the others in this series!
GCA Find #154
Rated: for Overall Experience
I had a few hours to spare this morning before catching a train to visit 2 of my daughters in The Gong. Got up early to get more caching in.
The city is so noisy! Even at 7am!
I love how I'm discovering little spots around Sydney with animals. I don't mean the main piece like the Hog here, I mean the ones carved into the architecture and, like here, small parts of the sculpture. Things you might not see if you were not looking up or close. <3
The city is so noisy! Even at 7am!
I love how I'm discovering little spots around Sydney with animals. I don't mean the main piece like the Hog here, I mean the ones carved into the architecture and, like here, small parts of the sculpture. Things you might not see if you were not looking up or close. <3
Rated: for Overall Experience
27C in the middle of winter, lovely day for a walk before my afternoon gig in the Merc.
I have sent the answers to the CO.
I have sent the answers to the CO.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Walking past here to complete a multi cache we remembered that this was a virtual cache so found the required info and took a photo, due to works at the site a close up of the head was taken.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I was in Sydney City today and passed this, so I stopped to log it. Answers emailed. TFTC The Spindoctors.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Walking up Macquarie Street from the Quay and grabbed a few virtual caches along the way. Our third stop was the Hospital to visit Il Porcellino. Have known about this statue for most of my life as there is a connection with who this statue is dedicated to (Dr Thomas Fiaschi) and our family home out at Ebenezer on the Hawkesbury (Tizzana Winery).
Answers to the questions have been sent to the CO - well worth the time to stop.
Answers to the questions have been sent to the CO - well worth the time to stop.
Rated: for Overall Experience
The Queens birthday weekend had been set aside for a work trip to Sydney. Free time meant geocaching time. With lots of virtual geocaches around the city I decided that would be a good way to spend my time. At each GZ there were plenty of muggles to content with but as most were tourists taking photos I blended in.
This poor creature was all fenced off but after getting my answers I reached over the top for a quick photo. CO emailed, TFTC
This poor creature was all fenced off but after getting my answers I reached over the top for a quick photo. CO emailed, TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found this one after taking my Georgia-son to see "Deadly 60 - Live" at the Opra House.
My parents went and saw the matching boar in Italy last year so I was glad to be able to show my son this one.
My parents went and saw the matching boar in Italy last year so I was glad to be able to show my son this one.
This was one of the first places we visited when we moved to Australia as it was in all the tourist books we'd read. Always brings back memories coming here of those daunting first few days! TFTC!
Cheers,
The Hancock Clan
Cheers,
The Hancock Clan
I've visited with this big boy dozens of times but this is the first as a cacher. Found on a wet Sydney Saturday and had to fight my way through some researching teenagers to get my selfie. Gave his nose a rub to keep him shiny (avoided the other shiny bit though).
Rated: for Overall Experience
It wasn't until today that I realized that there are little critters at the ground the boar was on! TFTC!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Big day of caching and photographing VIVID with phlphotos. TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
found with alnic39 before Vivid in Sydney. Been here numerous times but only recently found out about GCA caches to find.
Rated: for Overall Experience
#GA162 - 13:10; I was in Sydney with the geohoney, geoteen and friend, so while they were indulging in some retail therapy, I'd made my way over to gather the information I required to log a couple of caches nearby at Mrs Macquarie's Chair. On the way back to the CBD, I also stopped by to make the find on this cache. Sadly, I think I've now completed the City Animals series 
which I've thoroughly enjoyed doing over several visits to the city since my caching adventures began. The relevant information was gathered and a quick OK gained from the CO. TFTC The Spindoctors.
which I've thoroughly enjoyed doing over several visits to the city since my caching adventures began. The relevant information was gathered and a quick OK gained from the CO. TFTC The Spindoctors.Rated: for Overall Experience
Well that's an interesting water feature! Rubbed the piggy's nostrils, and it gave me luck, I get to claim a smiley!
Thanks Spindoctors!
Thanks Spindoctors!
This was Mrs THR's second day in Sydney and we were enjoying our walk around Sydney. After visiting Circular Quay we walked up here on our way to Hyde Park. This is a well known statue that Dr THR always enjoys looking at when visiting Sydney. This virtual provided that extra in depth look. TFTV The Spindoctors
Rated: for Overall Experience
interesting hmmm,easy to find, not sure if its my kind of statue
Rated: for Overall Experience
Another great little virtual. love the pig and just had to stroke its snout . I didn't want to miss out on any luck. This is my last City animals cache in the series having found all the others. Thanks for these interesting sculptures scattered throughout the city.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Another visit to Sydney and a nice walk from the botanical gardens to Hide park had us passing a few more virtuals. My parents were with me an didn't even know I was caching! Love the idea behind this series and wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot more animals around?
TFTC Wilbert67
TFTC Wilbert67
Rated: for Overall Experience
Now the streak madness is over I can claim some of those caches I was saving for a rainy day! Another City Animal to add to my collection. Speaking of rain it was finally clearing up which gave me the opportunity to go for a good walk around town!
Cheers Spindoctors!
Cheers Spindoctors!
Rated: for Overall Experience
A short trip into the city for lunch today, and I had 15 mins spare, so went for a brisk walk and grabbed the info I failed to collect last month. Have emailed it to The Spindoctors as requested. I'll upload a piggy piccie.
Never knew this was here. Enjoyed visiting and learning about the history. TFTC.
Never knew this was here. Enjoyed visiting and learning about the history. TFTC.
I walked by the other day and it occurred to me that this was likely to be one of the City Animals. Not knowing whether it was, and if so what was required, I photographed myself with Il Porcellino and GPS and looked over him quite carefully. I can answer the first two questions easily from memory. The third, I think, will need a revisit - unless I can make out the info from the photos...
I'm in Sydney for a few days, and like to add a couple of City Animals to my finds each time I come down. I love the series, and they are far more exciting than looking for soggy micros hidden about the metal structures of the city.
Found piggy without too much drama. People thought I was a bit of a freak trying to photograph myself with him and my GPSr! Always funny to see the conservative reactions on some peoples faces. If only they knew what they were missing!
Another top cache, Spindocs. Thanks!
Found piggy without too much drama. People thought I was a bit of a freak trying to photograph myself with him and my GPSr! Always funny to see the conservative reactions on some peoples faces. If only they knew what they were missing!
Another top cache, Spindocs. Thanks!
Rated: for Overall Experience
Had to wait for some very excited Italian muggles to have numerous shots of themselves taken with Il Porcellino.
Found this one during a weekend visit to Sydney. Actually haven't been down this way for good few years, so it was nice walk with my wife checking a few things out.
Thanks Spindoctors, and yep, we gave his nose a rub for luck.
Thanks Spindoctors, and yep, we gave his nose a rub for luck.
Rated: for Overall Experience
It's been nearly 15 years since I rubbed the snout of this fellow's big brother in Florence. I had no idea that he had a relative in Australia!
I grabbed the necessary pics and info while working in the street, but as noted in my Feline explorer log, it took a few days after the St Patrick's Day parade before I was able to contact the CO.
All info was OK, and approval to log was obtined - thanks Spindoc, esp for accepting the average quality fo one particular Feline cache answer.
All info was OK, and approval to log was obtined - thanks Spindoc, esp for accepting the average quality fo one particular Feline cache answer.
Rated: for Overall Experience
There is/was a mystery cache that used this statue.
The boys enjoyed the statue.
The boys enjoyed the statue.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Logging with permission.
I had 4 meetings in the City today, and was able to fit in a few caches between them. The last meeting was at Queen's Square, just up the road from this virtual, so I persuaded my manager to stop here & take a few photos for me . He helped me make a list of the animals at the base of the statue as well, then insisted that we go for coffee rather than look for more caches 
. I tried 
, but he said 
.
I've enjoyed this series, will be back to find the last 2 animals on my next visit.
Thanks Spindoctors .
I had 4 meetings in the City today, and was able to fit in a few caches between them. The last meeting was at Queen's Square, just up the road from this virtual, so I persuaded my manager to stop here & take a few photos for me
. He helped me make a list of the animals at the base of the statue as well, then insisted that we go for coffee rather than look for more caches . I tried , but he said .I've enjoyed this series, will be back to find the last 2 animals on my next visit.
Thanks Spindoctors
.Will a picture with Il Porcellino in Florence do? I was staying just nearby and we passed the little fellow every day on our walks. I must admit to not looking any further than his nose....................
Great series, I could chase these all around the city:) I was fortunate to be able to park the georocket just down the road for a quick find. Lots of tourists around the status this afternoon, all of them young woman and strangely attracted to a certain feature of the statue.
Thanks Spindoctors
Thanks Spindoctors
Rated: for Overall Experience
When I arrived to complete this cache, there were a group of interns undergoing initiation. It explains why more than his nose is shiny.
Their supervisor's parting words were, "for those of you who did, well done. For those of you who didn't: I'm not angry, just very disappointed. Now we'll meet up again in an hour in the sexual health clinic."
Their supervisor's parting words were, "for those of you who did, well done. For those of you who didn't: I'm not angry, just very disappointed. Now we'll meet up again in an hour in the sexual health clinic."
Since I was in town for non Geocaching business (OK I was getting my comic book fix!) I thought I should go and see my porky friend. I have known of him for many years, going back to when a friend of mine was in this very hospital.
Always loved him, specially his shiny nose!
Logged with permission from the CO.
Always loved him, specially his shiny nose!
Logged with permission from the CO.
Rated: for Overall Experience
GCA 441 - 4820. Visited a number of mainly Virtuals and Trigs during some spare time in Sydney over a two day period.
Having seen this many times but not stopping to read the plaques, it was amazing to find the Florence Italy connection ! As has been noted its weird to see that not just the nose is shiney from constant rubbing ???! Thanks to The Spindoctors !!
TFTC !!
Having seen this many times but not stopping to read the plaques, it was amazing to find the Florence Italy connection ! As has been noted its weird to see that not just the nose is shiney from constant rubbing ???! Thanks to The Spindoctors !!
TFTC !!
Rated: for Overall Experience
