Larry La Trobe: The Dog Statue That Has Defined Melbourne

The Curious Case of the Dog in the City: Melbourne’s Larry La Trobe

The smallest of things contribute to powerful processes of place making in our cities. In Melbourne’s City Square resides Larry La Trobe, an endearing bronze dog. Capturing the attention of passers-by on the street, he adds to everyday experience, nurturing a sense of belonging. Challenging traditional subjects of academic historical inquiry, focusing in on the streets, theories of space and methods of urban history enable this study into how Larry reconstituted the urban landscape. This article has implications for ongoing contests over art, space and place, thereby revealing ubiquitous historically contingent urban processes. Despite his small size, Larry cultivated civic stature, reawakened City Square, and found himself evoked throughout Melbourne, to the present day.

James Lesh, “The Curious Case of the Dog in the City.” Melbourne Historical Journal 41 (2013): 103–127.

Lesh - 2013 - The curious case of the dog in the city.pdf

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