I had visited The Flag Motor Lodge on great Eastern Highway in a work capacity, but was unable to take pictures. I immediately recognised it as a worst even before starting this blog, but now I’m not so sure. Yes they are bad, but also good. To see a tree sprouting carved swordfish, giant squid, eels and a seahorse behind the horrible pink brick and plumbing of an otherwise undistinguished Rivervale Motel is sort of good. And bad. The why is probably the most worst worthy. And for a true worst they should have been ineptly done, but they’re not. But they’re still bad. And good. Flag Motor Lodge, you are messin’ with my mind. I’m going not worst. And worst. Cimbali kindly took these for me. Cimbali says…
At the Flag Motor Lodge on Gt East Hwy in RivervaIe I had a quick glimpse of a sort of totem pole sculpture from the road but on entering the grounds was astonished to discover this treasure trove of dead tree sculptures. Apparently they were done by “a Bloke from York” according to one proud employee. He also told me that all he had to do was oil them occasionally.
The Worst of Perth 
Yes I am almost sure they are not worst.
We were surprised and even delighted to enter this wonderland – as members of staff pointed out more and more sculptures that they were clearly very proud of.
Apologies for not getting the front and back of the dingo in one shot – I took many but the camera is playing up. Can you arrange a tax deduction for camera equipment for TWOP purposes?
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I will throw my hat into the not worst ring. The quokka is sensational and puts its Fremantle counterpart to shame.
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Definitely not worst.
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Most certainly not worst.
The ‘orrible pink brick and exposed plumbing on the other hand……….. = an ubiquitous worst.
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The fish one is rather good.
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Yes individually the sea creatures are well executed but the more I look at it the stranger it seems that you would carve fish sprouting from the dead branches of an umbrella tree.
Unless this was representing some sort of dynamite fishing…
And the dingo – while it is well done, it is pretty odd that you would decide to carve the back end of a dingo on one side of a tree trunk and the head framed in a knot hole like a trophy on the other.
Isn’t it just a little bit kitch?
Are we going soft on cuddly native animals this week?
Will we be embracing the jarrah burl clock next?
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Yes, I too thought someone had viewed one too many worsts and their vision had softened somewhat. Bet none of you would be caught dead with a monument like that in your front (or back) yard.
Little Quokka sits in the old umbrella tree
Merry merry king of the Flag Motor Lodge is he
Barf little quokka barf
Little Quokka how gay your life must be
Little Quokka sits in the old umbrella tree
Counting all the Marlin he can see
Barf little quokka barf
Little Quokka that’s not a Marlin, it’s a piece of bloody wood carved to look like one you drongo.
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Yeah I think I’d have that seafood tree at my place. I think that they are there, or why they are there might be the worst. They should be in Yanchep.
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in the grove with the le buse sculptures?
perfect.
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I don’t think you can remove it from its context. I certainly wouldn’t have that tree at my place (it wouldn’t fit on the balcony for starters, let alone complement my metrocentric minimalism). But it is a surprisingly well-executed piece of whimsy in A FLAG LODGE IN RIVERVALE.
I’m inclined to award bonus ‘Not Worst’ points because someone from A FLAG LODGE IN RIVERVALE had the thought to contract ‘some bloke from York’ to carve animals out of an umbrella tree. Polishing a turd? Definitely. But also an admirable attempt to make bearable an otherwise depressing place in a depressing location, for mine.
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Reckon that is a quokka shit…the bloke from York did it for free. He used the Flag Motor Lodge every weekend over all those years he travelled down to the big smoke for the Friday night trots at Glouster Park.
Uncommissioned, I tell ya…in thanks for the memories
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Oh…and generous helpings of the pudding of the moment.
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As a Freo resdent I would have no qualms about the tree in my…… backyard.
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Nice one.
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I thought I detected a Fremantle accent.
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So whats a North of the River accent sounding like these days TLA? Cross between Afrikaan and Scouser?
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I was just astounded to hear someone from Freo accepting something in their backyard.
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Yes there still are a few backyards left.
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oops I didn’t finish. And those of us with backyards are open minded enough to consider a sculpture tree for decoration. What a great conversation starter.
As for any fandangle Ocean dwelling cities, well fuck off!
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Off Topic,
mrs stone – whois your pick for the Fremantle By-Election ?
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Taggers is a relentless campaigner and has the highest profile of all candidates. That said he has pissed a lot of people off during his 8 years. AS you well know Frank, Freo has always been as safe as houses for Labor, but there is a lot of Green support around. It’s a tough call. It costs so much to live in Freo these days that the demographic is certainly changing.
If I had to put my money on a winner, I think I would still back Pete, but with a slim margin.
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I too was conflicted, TLA, waiting to see the Azaria, and yet I feel we need to know more about this bloke from York. I was a little disappointed that the sculptures aren’t featured on their website, but my scales were tipped by the inclusion on their dessert menu of Pudding of the Moment. To the soundtrack of one hand clapping then … not worst.
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I think to the soundtrack by Asia more like it
It was the pudding of the moment,
Telling me what your heart meant,
The pudding of the moment that shone in your eyes…
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And now you find yourself in 82
The disco hotspots hold no charm for you
You cant concern yourself with bigger things
You catch the pearl and ride the dragons wings
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Sounding very much like some of John Laws’ better poetry.
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Just for you then, mrs stone.
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The drains coming down the walls show signs of extensive repairs and maintenance. Rivervale pudding derived discharges get into a quandary as they enter the main stack – either down under the relentless pull of their density, or up that fine 4 inch vent to the ozone layer. Inspection openings can burst and the discharges escape towards Belmont.
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Looks like the tree is giving birth to the dingo through an upside down vag
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There is no right and wrong way up for flange.
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