YOU'VE seen them from the ground up as they were built, and now Naracoorte's town entrances will be officially unveiled on September 9.
Two striking features have been constructed: the north entrance to Naracoorte features a Diprotodon skeleton - Australia's largest ever marsupial at over two tonnes in weight - while the southern entrance features a Zygomaturus and its baby.
These animals are part of Australia's megafauna, represented in the incredible fossil record at the Naracoorte Caves world heritage site.
Naracoorte Lucindale Mayor Erika Vickery expressed her delight at the completion of the sculptures.
"I'm very pleased to see the project is now complete," she told the Herald.
While she admitted the entrances were "a long time coming" she lauded the "fantastic partnership" between the council and the Naracoorte Lucindale Business and Tourism Association.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council committed $40,000 to the town entrances project and the association contributed $10,000.
Adelaide artist Steve Hayter won the contract to construct the entrances with the concept which most closely matched the artists' brief developed by a committee of councillors and NLBTA members.
The entrances are designed to attract attention to the Naracoorte Caves, whose importance to the area is not lost on mayor Vickery.
"It's a unique thing to have - Naracoorte Caves is SA's only world heritage site providing a significant point of difference for the district," she said.
"The caves attracts over 40,000 visitors per year and the township could benefit more from this asset - these sculptures are part of the strategy to develop closer links between the town and the world heritage site."
The opening will start at the northern entrance to Naracoorte near the information bay at 2pm.
Led by the mayor, cars will travel past the southern entrance to Naracoorte Caves, which has a similar sculpture at the park entrance.
"We certainly invite everyone to come along and support it," mayor Vickery said.
Afterwards, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources is offering free afternoon tea at the Caves Cafe and an Alexandra Cave tour.
A photographic competition will be launched at the opening, with the most creative image to win a family day out at the Naracoorte Caves including lunch at the Caves Cafe.
