The Big Powerful Owl

About

Owl, informally known as the Belconnen Owl or the Penis Owl, is a sculpture 8 m (26 ft) tall, designed by the Australian sculptor Bruce Armstrong, located in the Belconnen District of Canberra, Australia; it depicts a powerful owl (Ninox strenua). Erected in 2011 and made of concrete, it is celebrated as one of numerous "big things" in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The owl's form has been lampooned for having a phallic shape, especially when viewed from behind. It has become a tourist attraction; the Australian politician Tara Cheyne called it a "must see". The work has been nicknamed the "penis owl", "the Great Penis Owl of Belconnen", and "the Great Penis Owl of Canberra".

The statue has attracted graffiti; the ACT government spent A$3000 on cleaning it in the year prior to July 2017, and said they planned to install CCTV cameras to discourage and capture future vandalism.