SUTHERLAND Shire's matchstick model king Norm Grundy will have all of his scale models exhibited together for the first time as part of the 2014 Heritage Festival.
The former carpenter, 78, has devoted many hours since his retirement using matchsticks to replicate some of Sydney's landmarks.
The exhibition with feature his scale model of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which he built in 1980 using 75,000 matchsticks. It took 1000 hours to build.
Also on display will be his model of the Sydney Town Hall, completed in 1981 using 80,000 matches and taking 1100 hours to complete. His model of the Sydney Opera House, completed in 2012, used 50,000 matches and took 1100 hours to build, while his model of St Mary's Cathedral, completed in December 2012, was built with 75,000 matchsticks over 1700 hours.
Mr Grundy will be on hand during the exhibition to answer questions and demonstrate his model-building skills.
His model of Sydney Town Hall has been on exhibition at its namesake for 32 years.
He recently showed his copy of St Mary's Cathedral to Cardinal George Pell before he left for Rome.
"I think he was joking, but Cardinal Pell said he would like to keep the model of the cathedral and take it to Rome with him to show in the Australian offices at the Vatican," Mr Grundy said.
He is now working on a model of St Andrew's Cathedral, which he hopes to finish this year.
"Then I might give it a break for a little while as there's a bit of work to be done around the house," he said.
The models will be exhibited during Sydney Town Hall open day, to be held in the lower town hall as part of the Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 3, from 10am to 3pm.
