Sundial of Human Involvement (Torquay)

Picturesquely located on the foreshore land at Fishermans Beach at the corner of Darian Road and The Esplanade, the sundial was assembled in the traditional and time-honoured method of mosaic and comprises more than 120,000 glass Tesserae tiles. The sundial represents the traditional dreaming stories of the Indigenous Wathaurong people.

Correctly known as an Analemmatic Sundial, it consists of a central analemma and a number of hour markers (shells) in an elliptical pattern. A person standing on the analemma can tell the time from his or her shadow.

Your body becomes the 'dial' on this unique piece of art. Stand in the centre of the design and you can tell the time by the shadow cast by your body.

SUNDIAL OF HUMAN INVOLVEMENT

The Torquay Analemmatic Sundial is nothing like conventional sundials as we know them. Not all types of sundial can be used everywhere in the world. Horizontal sundials do not work well near the equator nor are vertical ones accurate near the North or South Poles.

It registers time in relation to the azimuth of the sun. (The azimuth is the angular distance on the horizon plane between the true north-south line and the foot of the perpendicular from the sun to horizon.)

LAYOUT OF THE TORQUAY SUNDIAL

HOW TO USE THE SUNDIAL

1. Stand on the body of the eagle at the correct date;
2. Your shadow will indicate the time;
3. Add one hour during Daylight saving.

TIME KEEPING ACCURACY

Any sundial properly designed for its location will tell the time accurately for the next few centuries. However, before a sundial will indicate the same time as your watch a number of corrections to the shadow reading must be considered.

The first correction is necessary because the orbit of the Earth around the Sun is elliptical, therefore the Earth slows down when it is furthest from the Sun and speeds up when it is nearest. In addition, the axis of the Earth is not perpendicular to its plane of orbit around the Sun. Together these effects give the 'Equation of Time' and are corrected by the 'figure eight' shape of the central analemma of the Torquay sundial.

Another correction occurs because of the difference in time between the sundial's location and the local time zone longitude of 150 degrees East, the reference point for Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). This correction is incorporated into the positions of the shell markers.

A further adjustment is needed during Daylight Saving - add one hour to the indicated time.

The central analemmatic curve is continuous and the person using the sundial should stand at the point closest to the date. For example, if it is the end of April the person should straddle a point corresponding to the end of April on the curve.

THE LEGEND OF MINDII

The Kooris who lived around Port Phillip said the MINDII was a great snake - very long, very thick of body and very, very powerful. They were all terrified of MINDII. He was believed to be under the domination of BUNJIL-the All-father.

MINDII had a large head and, when he hissed ejecting poisons, his three-pronged tongue appeared. He lived far away to the North North West. Death or disease would be the fate of any person who attempted to walk near MINDII's home.

MINDII had the power to extend or contract his size when BUNJIL ordered him to do his work. He could extend to reach any tribe. The local tribes dreaded a visit from MINDII - from him rarely anyone could escape. All plagues were caused by MINDII or his servants.

If MINDII was known to be about, the people set fire to the bush and fled, leaving all possessions. Some perished in mid stride - those who could run fast enough to reach the ancient sorcerer MOONI-BROOM-BROOM survived as the sorcerer had the power to make MINDII return to his home by waving his hand.

SITED FOR ACCURACY

To ensure accuracy, the Torquay sundial is designed for the exact latitude and longitude of its site:
Latitude - 38 19' 30" S Longitude -144 19' 45" E

It is also corrected for Equation of Time values resulting from variations in the Sun's apparent motion. The sundial faces True South. At most times it is accurate within a few minutes.

The calculations, marking and orientation of the sundial were done by Ian Sells of Torquay.

ABOUT SUNDIALS

During the day the sun appears to move across the sky, causing changes in the length and position of the shadow cast by any solid object. The height of the sun above the horizon also varies the position of the shadow.

For more than 5,000 years, people have used the movement of shadows produced by the sun for reckoning time and the determination of important days.

Any device which uses either the length of the shadow or its angular position to divide the period between sunrise and sunset into units is known as a sundial.

Conventional horizontal sundials have beautified gardens for centuries and there are also sundials which can be attached to the walls of buildings. These vertical sundials can be placed on walls facing in a variety of directions and are popular in Europe where some towns and villages are famous for their wall sundials.

Other examples of Analemmatic Sundials in Australia are located at Mount Annan Botanic Garden, Sydney, and at Sculpture Park, Maria Creek, Kingston SE, South Australia.

The Torquay Analemmatic Sundial - a sundial of human involvement is a community project of the Lion's Club of Torquay.

STAR CONSTELLATIONS

The following stars and constellations are depicted in the Torquay Sundial. They are listed as they appear from left to right in the sundial. The Koori names for these star formations are courtesy of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
PLEIADES or WORRUL Bees' Nest This star cluster is commonly known as 'The Seven Sisters'.
BUNJIL Wedgetail Eagle Formalhaut is the brightest star in this formation. Bunjil also appears in the central analemma of the sundial.
SIRIUS This single star is included in the sundial because it is the brightest star in the sky.
POINTERS or TEER:RER Spear These two bright stars 'point' towards the Southern Cross
SOUTHERN CROSS or NGU:OO Tea Tree (Local Term WOO:LERP) This familiar formation of stars is always visible on a clear night from our latitude.
THE POT Resembling a cooking pot, these stars are part of the constellation of Orion, the Hunter. The belt and sword of Orion form The Pot.
MILKY WAY or WARAM:BOOL A roadway lined with trees- a promenade of the dead. The Milky Way is a galaxy composed of thousands of millions of stars. All the stars shown in the sundial belong to the Milky Way. Our Sun is located in the Milky Way galaxy.

TORQUAY SUNDIAL IS UNIQUE

The Torquay sundial is assembled in a traditional time honoured method of mosaic using more than 120,000 glass Tesserae tiles. The mosaic tiles are laid on an eight metre diameter concrete slab in a natural setting overlooking the ocean and coastline.

The Torquay sundial represents traditional dreaming stories of the Wathaurong (Geelong) area including Mindii the ever watchful Snake, his Dreaming Tracks and Bunjil the Eagle, Creator and overseer.

The central theme of the mosaic depicts moon phases, star constellations, the ocean, sand dunes and coastal Torquay, including its precious local flora and fauna.

Review:

Well worth a stop so that the kids can have some fun finding out the time using an old fashioned method. Stunningly beautiful and interesting mosaic.

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