BALLARAT'S SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL

The move to establish a Shakespeare Memorial commenced in 1889 with the establishment of a citizens' committee which undertook to raise funds for the project. The memorial was intended to complement the statues of the Scottish and Irish "National poets," Robbie Burns and Tom Moore, in Sturt Street.

The Fund was initiated by notable American George Creighton Miln, during a two week vsist to Ballarat, performing at the Academy of Music (Her Majesty's Theatre). Fundraising was undertaken by individuals and groups for some years, until the bulk of the funds were lost in the banking crash of 1891.

The fund sat dormant for many years: in 1935 the amount held for the Memorial was £945. Two bequests finally brought the project to fruition: one of £100 in 1939 from the estate of Frank Gale, and of £2000 in 1952 from the estate of local furrier Harry Pearson Stevens.

After this second bequest, a committee was formed by the City Council in conjunction with the Fidelity Trustee Company Ltd to finalise the proposal. The present sculpture was commissioned from Hungarian-born Australian sculptor, Andor Meszaros, at a cost of £4000. At the time it was claimed that the large bronze statue was only the second Shakespeare Memorial to be erected in Australia, and that it was unusual in that it was the first cast in Australia - previously all such castings had had to be sent to England or Italy. The statue was unveiled in an official ceremony on 17 November 1960.

The committee overseeing the project at the time consisted of Councillors G L Scott, MLA and W E Roff; Mr W Titheridge and Mr J H Heinz from the Fidelity Trustee Company; and the president of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery Council, Mr R P Evans. They were advised by Miss Redpath, a nominee of the Victorian Sculptors' Society. The final design was selected from nine models submitted by sculptors.

The move to establish the Shakespeare Memorial in Ballarat is significant. It had its roots in Ballarat's very vigorous cultural life, and a need of this community to confirm their cultural connections and allegiances by erecting commemorative landmarks. It says much about the civic pride of this community, which meant that over the years, significant resources have been allocated to enhancing our environment, and that cultural icons like William Shakespeare have a place beside war memorials and monuments to local heroes.