Cottesloe Beach will gain a new sculpture to commemorate former councillor Helen Burke
The Town of Cottesloe will soon host a striking new marble sculpture on its foreshore, a tribute to the late Helen Burke, a longtime community champion. The piece, titled The Passage of Time, will sit on Marine Parade, overlooking the ocean and the Seaview Golf Course.
Created by South Korean artist Jina Lee for this year’s Sculptures by the Sea, the white marble work measures about 183 cm in height and evokes the way time carries memory across the natural rhythm of the sea. Its donation was arranged by Burke’s daughter, Heidi Whitfield, after the piece was displayed at the festival.
Council officials, including deputy mayor Lorraine Young and mayor Melissa Harkins, approved the installation after confirming it meets the town’s foreshore memorial and public‑art policies. The sculpture, valued at just over $50,000, will remain for 30 years, with Sculptures by the Sea handling delivery and installation while the town assumes routine upkeep.
For residents and visitors, the artwork promises a contemplative landmark that links Cottesloe’s cultural heritage with the enduring presence of its beloved beach community.