Lost Language, by Amanda Lockton, now takes pride of place on the corner of Wollombi and Paynes Crossing Road, near the Wollombi Museum and the village's visitor noticeboard.

The 300-kilogram sculpture, which sits atop a 1000-kilogram concrete plinth, was lifted by crane into its new home last Tuesday afternoon.

Lockton said the work was inspired by the local landscape and the traditional owners of the land, with Darkinjung language featured on the sculpture.

Lost Language took out not only the acquisitive prize, it also won the 2325 Locals Prize; and Lockton took out the Children's Choice Award her works Tigar and Graf.

She said she was quite shocked to win, and was pleased that Lost Language would stay in the local area.

A volunteer with the Laguna Rural Fire Brigade, Lockton used her prize money from the November exhibition to support her family after spending 25 days on the fireground this summer.

Sculpture in the Vineyards director Susan Leith-Miller said the festival is very grateful to the Wollombi Museum for allowing Lost Language to be installed on their land.

The 2019 festival brought about 1400 visitors to the Wollombi Valley, with 52 large outdoor sculptures and 41 indoor sculptures across venues including GNTP Laguna, Undercliff Winery, the Endeavour Museum, Grays Inn, Stonehurst Winery, Wollombi Tavern, The Old Fireshed Gallery, St John's Church and many public spaces throughout the Wollombi valley.

The overall winner was Robert Barnstone's 'Gene Rosa', which was installed at Gray's Inn Wollombi during the festival.

This year's festival is scheduled to run from October 17 to November 1, with the call for artists to go out on June 1. Email sinthev@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.