Stapley Award medal 1965

MESZAROS, Andor

Registration number

1091921

Artist/maker

MESZAROS, Andor

Title

Stapley Award medal

Production date

1965

Medium

bronze (medal); wood, red felt (box)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

6.9 cm (medal diameter); 0.4 cm (medal depth); 10.3 x 2.3 cm (box)

Inscriptions

Face: STAPLEY AWARD / ANDOR MESZAROS / 1964 Verso: PRESENTED TO / THE MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL / BY THE MELBOURNE DIVISION OF / THE AUSTRALIAN PLANNING INSTITUTE / IN MEMORY OF / THE LATE ALDERMAN / FRANK STAPLEY / ON THE OCCASION OF THE / INAUGURATION OF THIS AWARD / 23RD AUGUST 1965

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

Stapley award, Frank Stapley, Melbourne City Council, Australian Planning Institute, Andor Meszaros, Medal, Bronze

Summary

The collection houses an example of the very special Stapley Award medal. The award is named after Frank Stapley (1858–1944), a prominent Melbourne architect and town planner, a member of Melbourne City Council from 1898 to 1939, and mayor during 1917–18. Some of Stapley's work survives, including the utilitarian yet beautifully designed Edwardian-style tram shelters that can be seen in various places, including on St Kilda Road. In 1936, the area between the Yarra River and Batman Avenue was named Stapley Parade Reserve in his honour. Identical granite drinking fountains bearing the name 'Stapley Parade' were erected at either end of the reserve, which is now Birrarung Marr. In 1965, the Melbourne division of the Australian Planning Institute initiated the Stapley Award, which took the form a medallion designed by Andor Mészáros. It features an adult male opening the way for an infant to step through into the future, with Greek text that translates to 'always forward'. The reverse is engraved, showing that this medal was presented to the city on the award's inauguration, on 23 August 1965. The Planning Institute of Australia continues to award the medal to an outstanding secondary-school project. This text is excerpted from Darren Burgess' essay 'City of Melbourne Numismatic Collection', available in full through the 'Explore' tab above.