Now Invercargill's statue of Minerva will be taken from her perch for a ``spruce up'' before finding a new home.
The Roman goddess of wisdom was originally installed atop the Invercargill Athenaeum building in 1876, but since the 1940s has stood guard in front of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
A report received by the Invercargill City Council's infrastructure and services committee on Monday detailed damage to the statue.
Museum manager Paul Horner, who presented the report, said the plan was to remove the statue from the pedestal for repair.
The statue was ``showing her age somewhat'', and was ``sorely in need of some conservation work'', he said.
Redevelopment work being undertaken at the museum meant now was the time to remove the statue, however, its future home was yet to be decided, he said.
``The staff of the museum would suggest that it would be better in the future to place her perhaps in the redeveloped museum.''
Historian and city councillor Lloyd Esler believed the statue should remain on display outside.
``She's been outside for 140 years, she can weather the pigeons and the rain for another 140 years,'' he said.
The statue had its wreath stolen and returned, its nose painted, had been graffitied, and it was saved from being melted down during World War 1 when it was discovered to be made from cast iron, rather than bronze, and worth a mere 4, he said.
Cr Esler wanted to ensure the statue was on display in the interim and ``certainly don't want her to be hidden away in a warehouse''.
Removing the statue would cost about $5,000, while the future estimated cost for conservation was expected to be about $50,000, depending on its future location, the
- Sharon Reece
