May Barrie from Wollongong won the gong yesterday for her giant Moruya granite sculpture, beating 113 other works that are scattered along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk.

Barrie's Time and Tide Granite Monolith II is one of the highlights of the 13th annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, which is expected to attract more than half a million people over the next two weeks.

Barrie, who studied sculpture at the National Art School in Sydney in the 1940s, said she always thought the work was pretty good.

''I know it's a good work and now I'm glad that other people agree,'' she said, sitting in front of the 2m-high sculpture, which she was invited to submit 13 years after it was completed. The mother of five, who began the sculpture when she was 77 and completed it a year later, said older people should not let age get in the way.

''They should never think about their age.

''They should just get on with it.''

Barrie said she had little use for the money and most of it would be given to her children.

''Between the five children and me it's $10,000 each and I'll enjoy what they're buying with it and helping them.

''I can't use it myself. I've got everything. I have a beautiful farm.''

Sculpture by the Sea founding director David Handley said Barrie's work deserved the recognition.

''Who would have thought? May Barrie has been hidden from us for so long,'' he said.

The top prize was sponsored by the Balnaves Foundation, which is calling on councils and public organisations to nominate sites for a permanent collection of winning sculptures. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 15.

AAP