Where the Eagle Soars by James Hamilton is a wedge tail eagle sculpture is dedicated to the first responders, and those who fought the 2019 Cudlee Creek fire.

Located in the Mill Road Pocket Forest in Lobethal, the sculpture is fabricated from Corten steel over stainless steel, and the wedge tail eagle is supported by a galvanised steel tripod.

The installation was commissioned by the Lobethal Community Association and installed in May 2024. Funding support was provided by a 'Strengthening Rural Communities Grant' through the 'Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal', with support from the 'Paul Ramsay Foundation'.

Inscribed on the tripod are the words 'Brave; Selfless; Heroic'. The words were chosen through a community consultation which asked the question 'how would you describe first responders?'.

On Friday 20 December 2019, an uncontrolled fire broke out in Cudlee Creek.​ The fire resulted in more than 25,000 hectares of the district being burned including homes, outbuildings, vehicles and property.

The fire impacted many towns throughout the Adelaide Hills including Lobethal, Woodside, Brukunga, the Harrogate area and Mount Torrens.

More than 2000 volunteers responded, and although the main fire was controlled within 24 hours, breakouts and flare-ups continued for a further ten days. The fire was finally declared safe on 3 January 2020.

'Where the Eagle Soars' is dedicated to the first responders, those who fought the fires and those who supported our communities in the difficult days that followed.

James Hamilton is a metal fabricator specialising in sculpture and custom designs.

An award-winning artisan based in Paracombe, South Australia, he established his studio 'J Hamilton Design' in 2016. He has become well known for his detailed three-dimensional metal sculptures and bespoke metal work. His animal sculptures in particular demonstrate exceptional realism and attention to detail.