125 stories for 125 years

Norma Redpath

Norma Redpath OBE was born in Melbourne and studied at Swinburne Technical College and RMIT. In the 1950s she undertook studies at Perugia in Italy and travelled extensively throughout Europe. Her early work attracted attention at the Centre Five exhibitions and at the annual exhibitions of the Victorian Sculptors' Association, of which she was a council member and vice-president.

In 1962 Norma received an Italian scholarship, and she worked in bronze-casting foundries and established a headquarters in Milan. For years she travelled between Italy and Australia, where she was quickly becoming renowned for her work. Norma received several commissions in Australia, including bronze reliefs for BP offices in Melbourne and Westernport in 1964; the Treasury Fountain, Canberra, 1965 to 1969; Victorian State Coat of Arms for the façade of the National Gallery of Victoria, 1968; Sydney Rubbo Memorial, University of Melbourne, 1970 to 1974; and the Higuchi Sculpture at the college, 1971 to 1972.

In 1970 Norma was awarded an Order of the British Empire for her contribution to the development of Australian sculpture.

The Higuchi Sculpture is located on the eastern wall of the Manning building at the college. Takeru Higuchi himself unveiled the sculpture on 23 February 1972 to coincide with the First Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association Conference held in Melbourne.