Search continues for fix to vandalised Horizon Ball amid fears repairs could cause further damage

Geraldton’s beloved Horizon Ball sculpture remains tarnished after vandals defaced the acrylic ball in January, with the City of Greater Geraldton still navigating the delicate repair process. At the beginning of the year, city staff noticed etchings on the face of the Horizon Ball sculpture which sits on Chapman Road and is one of Geraldton’s most popular tourism destinations. “Mad dog” and “6642” were scratched into the art piece, with the latter tag believed to be the postcode for Meekatharra, Kumarina, Peak Hill, Angelo River, Karalundi and Capricorn. Six months on from the incident, the city has been unable to pinpoint on CCTV footage the moment the incident occurred. It had investigated if the damage could be buffed out but work has not been done to date due to the risk of repairs further damaging the sculpture. “The city, with help from the artist and manufacturer, is continuing to investigate options for buffing out marks and light damage to Horizon,” City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ross McKim said. This is the latest incident of vandalism in which the popular public artwork on Beresford foreshore has been targeted. The piece by artist Lucy Humphrey was manufactured in Thailand and installed in 2019 but experienced structural failure in hot weather after being weakened by vandalism and exploded in November 2021. It was finally replaced in December 2022, but 12 hours after the replica was installed a 17-year-old damaged it by jumping inside the water-filled structure. The damage caused by the teen cost $11,500, including repairs, fencing and staffing costs. CCTV was installed after that incident. It is not known what the bill will be to repair the current damages to the surface of the Horizon Ball.