The man affectionately known to grey nomads and others as ‘Spanner Man’ has died.
Artist John Piccoli became famous among travellers for his unique collection of artworks around the Victorian town of Boort.
After contracting polio in 1949, the ABC reports that Mr Piccoli carried on farming his third-generation Central Victorian property from a wheelchair before retiring to embrace life as an accidental artist.
He sourced antique spanners from far and wide to create his many sculptures and he eventually opened his farm to visitors. The tourist attraction welcomed 300 people in its first year; nearly 20 years later, it attracted 100-200 visitors a day.
Like many other grey nomads, Jim and Gayle Tomlinson were ‘blown away’ by the life-size spanner sculptures they found on their visit to Boort.
“Any traveller that is visiting that area would be recommended to make a time to view this amazing artwork,” said Jim.
Boort local Paul Haw said Mr Piccoli had an incredible skill.
“He was terribly artistic,” Mr Haw said. “He used to lie in the dirt on his back to weld; he had the incredible ability to achieve perspective.”
Mr Piccoli famously didn’t want to make any money out of his artwork … he just wanted to see the pleasure that people got out of it.
Mr Haw told the ABC that he was sure the tourist attraction, which plays a major role in the local economy of the 700-person town, would go on.
“John would have made plans for that,” he said. “I’d say his farm will be just as popular when re-opens, I used to take kids out there, not for his artwork but for how he treated life … he was an example to everyone.”
Amazing place, I had been told about him in Warranbool and went home that way, so glad I did, very talented man.
We meet this lovely talented man about 8 years ago and were taken with the ability that John had to create the works he did and all from a wheelchair condolences to his family Rest in Peace John .
we have been 4 times loved it everytime we took someone new
I was there a few years ago & was absolutely amazed at what this talented man had achieved. So many incredible sculptures & all done from a wheelchair. So sad.
We took our Autistic 13 year old grandson to see him and the hit it off spending hours talking about his statues.
It was one of our most enjoyable times ever
We visited family in Kerang 12months ago n they took us out to see The Spannerman n his creations. Didnt realise we should have prebooked but he was very accommodating n let us join in with the other large group who arrived after us.
He was working on the kangaroo n we have been told he finished it before he passed.
We loved all of his pieces n stayed half a day, listened to him speak about his life’s journey, such n Incredibly talented man.
Its a place where you’d want to visit more than once.
Rest in Peace dear John, you were a legend! So glad we got to meet you. You will live on in your awsome creations.
Amazing talent. RIP John(Spanner Man) Piccoli
Great place to visit & a very welcoming man , all our sympathies to his family.We will definitely go back
We were there about a week before he passed away, what an incredible talent the man had made more special being handicapped by polio, I feel privileged to have met the man in person, god rest his soul
An incredible man who never let his disability get in the way of what he wanted to do. Despite his failing health he continued creating sculptures and holding his shows. John’s wife Sonia is continuing the tours displaying Johns work.
We enjoyed a visit to this incredible man’s’ farm a few years ago.
We have passed details and shown photos to lots of people since.
A very special experience.
Jonn was a humble talented man. A great loss to australia. RIP John
We have seen the amazing sculptures some years ago. A most impressive creative, inspirational man John was. Our condulances to his family.
Could you please tell me if you can still go and see John’s sculptures and when it will be open to the public.
Thank you.
Marg
Unbelievably talented man who didn’t let his disability stop him from doing what he love to do and that was create something in his mind and produce it.Did two trips to boost to see his creations.