Fortunately, we had access to the records of Australia's oldest municipal authority at the Sydney City Archives. These archives, dating back to the establishment of the Municipal Council of Sydney in 1842, are a treasure trove of information, preserving over a million items including documents, photographs, maps, and plans.

The Totem Pole
Totem poles are monumental carvings created by First Nations and Indigenous people of western Canada and the northwestern United States. They have deep cultural significance. These poles, posts, or pillars, carved with symbols or figures, are typically made from large trees, predominantly western red cedar.

Totem Pole, Victoria Park, Sydney

The totem pole in Victoria Park, Sydney, depicts a Canadian First Nations story from the Cowichan region in British Columbia. Presented to Sydney on behalf of the people of Canada in 1964, it stands 6 meters tall and features motifs representing a story from the traditional lands of the Coast Salish in British Columbia. At the top, there's a thunderbird, followed by a whale with a face for a spout, and then a bear with a fish in its mouth. The bear is holding a shield and sits on a dancing mask.

The artist behind this magnificent piece is Simon Charlie (1919 - 2005), also known as Hwunumetse’ in his native Hul’q’umi’num’ language. He was a renowned Coast Salish master carver and elder, recognized for his contributions to education and the preservation of his cultural heritage.

The Backstory
Delving into the files at the City Archives revealed that the Canadian timber industry viewed Australia as a significant market for their products and sought to foster goodwill towards importing timber. On July 21, 1965, then Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman Harry Jensen, received a letter from the Canadian Trade Commissioner in Sydney, offering to cover all costs for the creation, transport, installation, and ongoing maintenance of a totem pole.

For many years, Canada had been a traditional supplier of timber to Australia, with the majority coming from British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. On the occasion of National Timber Week in Sydney, celebrated from September 14-19, 1964, the Canadian Government, in association with the Canadian West Coast timber trade, wished to present an authentic "Indian" Totem Pole to the people of Sydney as a gift from the people of Canada.

Simon Charlie, Totem Pole sculptor

Within weeks, the Council had approved the gift. The Canadians initially suggested Hyde Park in the city centre as the location, but after investigations by Council staff, it was decided to place the totem pole in Victoria Park, Camperdown. The files do not elaborate on why this park was chosen over Hyde Park. On September 17, 1946, the Canadian High Commissioner to Australia, Evan Gill, travelled from Canberra to join Lord Mayor Harry Jensen in the opening ceremony of the pole before an assembled crowd of dignitaries and onlookers.

The project must have been in the planning stages long before the formal approach from the Canadians to Sydney City Council. Although it was said to be specially created for the September 1964 Timber Week presentation, creating a Native American totem pole standing 6 meters (20 feet) high is a significant undertaking. It requires time, skill, and dedication. Depending on the complexity of the design, the experience of the carver, and the availability of materials, it can take anywhere from several months to over a year to carve and finish a 20-foot totem pole.

Other Totem Poles in Australia
Genuine Native American totem poles in Australia. One of them is in Adelaide, installed in 1970 as a gift from the Canadian government to celebrate National Timber Week of that year. The Canadians seemed to have found a successful strategy.

The Adelaide totem pole, made of western red cedar and carved with the legend of the crests of the Tsimshian Indian Nation of Canada, was crafted in 1970 by William Jeffery, head chief of the Gitwilgywat Band of the Tsimshian Nation. It was a gift from the Council of the Forest Industries of British Columbia as part of South Australia's Timber Week. It was first presented to Lord Mayor of Adelaide Robert Evelyn Porter on November 16, 1970, at a ceremony in Victoria Square, Adelaide, where the pole was temporarily located. It was later moved to Tulya Wodli (Bonython Park), its current permanent location.

Adelaide Totem Pole during the 1970 Timber Week Opening

Timber Week
Timber Week was an ephemeral event that was repeated annually until 1981. Adelaide was the recipient of another Timber Week gift in 1978, this time a pergola structure in presented to the City of Adelaide byPhilippine timber producers and members of the Asian timber importers association of South Australia constructed of mahogany located in South Terrace, Veale Gardens, Adelaide. The concept of commemorating the timber industry in Australia has continued in one form of another since then, with one current iteration being a National Forestry Day

Conclusion
Despite having a similar history and institutions, Canada tends not to rank very highly in the Australia psyche. The totem pole in Victoria Park, Sydney, stands not only as a beautiful piece of art but also as a symbol of cultural exchange and goodwill between Canada and Australia. Its presence enriches the park's landscape and serves as a reminder of the enduring connections between communities across the globe.

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