JOH Architects beat over 80 contestants in a competition aimed at trying to find a Geelong" icon that can be seen from the road, sea and air."

The competition guidelines stated that Geelong needed an icon that could be comparable to the Sydney Opera House or the Statue of Liberty as representatives of their respective cities.

The sculpture is “a wind driven sculptural sea monster” that has wind turbines located on top of seven masts which is designed to maximise wind energy

The barrel is an 'elongated corkscrew' which makes contact with the water on each rotation drawing the water up and over the barrel in a wave like motion along the length of the 75 metre long sculpture. The speed at which the barrel turns is a direct reflection of the wind speed driving the turbines.

"Today's standards - the idea of renewables, incorporating those ideas was an important thing" said JOH director Christian O’Halloran.

The entire sculpture is designed to float on a series of hulls located under each mast which allows it to always be at the correct height

O’Halloran, said they were given a couple of reasons for why their design was chosen by the judges.

"They said that it met the criteria better than any of the others and also they felt there was a much higher probability that it could get built. I think part of the reason for that is the logic, having it as a separate item in the water- another layer to what's there rather than re-inventing what's there is a really important part of what we have done."

The original proposal for the project was to place it in the Gardens but the architects decided that the waterfront presented a better alternative.

"Geelong also being a port city and very focused on the bay, the gateway down to the coast, the idea of water, sailing- anything that is in the water would be relevant." said O'Halloran.

O'Halloran said he was really happy to have won.

"It was a bit of a surprise. You always think that your idea is a good one but you never know who you're up against and so you just don't know where it's going to go."

"To have it selected was great, we're really happy."