Charlotte died relatively young and left no descendants, while her siblings had many children. It seemed appropriate therefore to make the sculpture hers, her place in history.

Cut from hard sandstone, Lottie took over two years to produce. The stone comes from the Paradise Quarry, south of Whangarei, and chisels and angle-grinder were used in the carving. Greater than life-size, Kap Pothan estimates that Lottie would be over 10 foot tall if standing. The sculpture was unveiled 19 May 1989, installed in the gardens of Reyburn House and stands at the harbour entrance to the gallery.

Reyburn House is the oldest surviving settlers house in Whangarei and was originally sited between the Hatea River overbridge and the Harbour Board, the present Regional Council Buildings. It was relocated in 1986 to its present site, the Harbour Board having offered it to the Northland Society of Arts for the sum of $1, and with a lease in perpetuity.

Text by Desmond Ford

NB A memorial stone by the artist dedicates this work to Charlotte Reyburn and to 'Janet Pothan - who loved this house'