A new sculpture in Port Elliot pays homage to the contribution Jessie Hussey made to the world of botany during the late 1800s. The amateur botanist collected over 2000 specimens for Ferdinand von Mueller — the great Australian botanist of the nineteenth century. 

The sculpture is called Neptune’s Pearls because it is based on a pressed specimen of this small balled seaweed, which is a common site on Fleurieu beaches. 

Neptune’s Pearls appear olive green to dark brown, but underwater the seaweed glows like a necklace of bright yellow pearls.

“We wanted the sculpture to be fun so kids would engage with it and then read the story on the plaque and be inspired by that. So we decided on a vibrant yellow,” explains Chris deRosa, an acclaimed artist from Port Elliot who worked on this project with a small team of local artisans. 

“Jessie would scour the beaches in Port Elliot and collect algae and terrestrial specimens and send them to Ferdinand von Mueller in Melbourne, so he could classify and name them. Mueller also sent her specimens throughout the world to other scientists to help identify them,” says Chris. 

“Today, Jessie’s specimens are held at the Adelaide Herbarium, the Melbourne Herbarium, the Natural History Museum in London, and also in Ireland, Germany and Sweden. She collected prolifically for the last five years of her life — but sadly died when she was only 36,” Chris notes.

For many years Chris has incorporated Jessie Hussey’s specimens into her art. She undertook this passion project with her partner Gerry Wedd, who is a celebrated potter and ceramist. Their large steel work was fabricated by Chris Murphy from Blue Temper in Middleton and painted by Fleurieu Blast and Paint. 

The sculpture was commissioned by the Alexandrina Council and is located in Continental Park, overlooking the coast.

Jessie Hussey collected botanical specimens during an era when women were not permitted to become scientists. For Chris, the sculpture is a way to bring awareness to Jessie Hussey’s achievements so she receives the recognition she deserves.