21. Robert Burns Statue 1887 Sculptor: John Udny, White Carrara marble
Robert Burns Statue
Robbie Burns statue was erected by the Scottish community of Ballarat on the site of a large willow known as the 'Loafers' Tree'. Its donation was the first following the example of the Stoddart Statues and like them it was made of white Carrara marble. One of the same sculptors, Giovanni Udney in Italy, was sent a photograph of Burns and instructions for the design, from which he made the statue.
Ballarat Centenary (1935) p51 "On a site where had grown a large willow tree about which the idlers of the City congregated, the Scottish citizens erected a fine statue of their poet, Robert Burns, at a cost of £1 000, but this was not handed over to the City Council till 1897 because the donors had not chosen the quotations for the panels on the base of the pedestal."
Ballarat Times (1995) Peter Butters and Peter Mansfield, Ballarat Historical Society p62 "This monument was the first statue to a poet anywhere in Australia. It was unveiled on 21 April 1887 by Thomas Stoddart before a crowd of 15 000."
It is worth a closer look to see the beautiful patterned tiles around the base. Robert Burns was born near Ayr in Scotland 25 January 1759 and died at Dumfries 21 July 1796. He was a popular farmer-poet and father of nine children. Many of his poems were written to be sung to old Scottish folk tunes.
The quotations around the base read as follows:
North:
