PICTURE: RM


Thomas Stoddart gave the impetus to the erection of statuary in the Botanic Gardens, followed later by James Russell Thomson and Richard Armstrong Crouch.


THOMAS STODDART

Born 1828 at Roxburgh, Scotland, he attended school at Hawick and at the age of 16 was apprenticed to a joiner. Four years later he joined the army and worked at his trade, stationed at Woolwoch. In1853 he left for Australia where he took employment as a joiner before coming to Ballaarat about a year later.

In Ballaarat and district, Thomas Stoddart was successful as a miner until 1861 when he turned from mining to speculation and subsequently to sharebroking. It was said that Thomas Stoddart floated as many mining companies as any other man. He became a Director of many of them.

By the 1880’s, he had become a wealthy man, admitting into partnership Mr. D. Binnie, but following the latter’s death, the management developed onto Mr. T.M. Antcliffe. In 1882 Thomas Stoddart returned to Scotland on a visit taking the opportunity to tour Europe. Whilst in Italy he visited a sculptors studio where he was impressed by work being executed for the City of Genoa. He thereupon purchased the twelve statues now in our gardens. As an executor of the estate of Mr. J. Russell Thomson, he helped select statuary now housed in the Statuary Pavilion.

Elected Chairman of the Burns Statue Fund, Thomas Stoddart generously contributed to the fund as well as to the funds for Tom Moore and William Shakespeare.

After 1884 he sustained heavy losses through investments in the Western Coal Company, the City Bank and Queensland Cooper ventures but none the less he supported the city he loved, through the statuary, churches and sport.

In appreciation, the Council of the City of Ballaarat placed a tablet to this effect next to a bust of Mr. Stoddart, in a prominent position at the top of the stairway in the Town Hall.

Thomas Stoddart, a bachelor, a worthy citizen and inspirer of the statuary movement, died at his home 321 Sturt Street on Monday, 20th February 1905, in his 77th year.


JAMES RUSSELL THOMSON

Born 24th May 1881 at Airdrie, Ayreshire, Scotland, enlisting in the 92nd Gordon Highlands in 1837, serving for about eight years in various parts of the world before he returned to Scotland where he purchased his discharge whilst in Edinburgh. Went to Glasgow and became a clerk in the Post Office until 1852.

Sailed in the ship “Aberfoyle” for Melbourne on 10th September 1852, arriving Christmas 1852 and at once started for the Ovens Diggings. Found gold and came to Ballaarat February 1853. One of his fellow passengers on the ship was a man who worked the mines with him, was on the Republic Mine (on the site of the Base Hospital) which was so wet that Thomson subsequently lost his hearing, the man who was to become Premier of Victoria, Duncan Gillies.

James Russell Thomson was described as a man for hard work, often working shifts of 24 hours consecutively to keep back the drift in the mine; as a sagacious counsellor, a trusty friend, a man of much reading and liberal gifts, he always had troops of friends. But because of his deafness, he did not take part in later life an active part on the side of the miners in all the movements that preceeded and followed the Eureka affair. He was a Juror on the inquest into the death of James Scobie and following this he was the first to sign a public letter expressing a great dissatisfaction on the conduct of the inquest. Peter Lalor was another person to sign.

On Tuesday 17th October 1854 a large crowd of some thousands assembled in the vicinity of Bently's Eureka Hotel. Thomson took part in the running of the meeting, called to discuss the facts of the Scobie case; a matter causing great feeling amongst the diggers. He seconded the motion that the facts be forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor, subsequently he was appointed one of the committee of seven to carry out the views of the meeting.

A vote of thanks to the chair, the business terminated, but not so with the multitude of miners, who, irritated by the large display of police force, eventually got out of hand and burnt down Bently’s Hotel.

Despite large financial losses in later life, after making substantial bequest to relatives, the residue of his estate went to purchase the wonderful collection of statuary in the Statuary Pavilion together with that of Sir William Wallace, all that at the Gardens.

James Russell Thomson, a bachelor, a very popular man, died at his home 93 Doveton Street North, 26th May 1886, aged 68.


RICHARD ARMSTRONG CROUCH

Born 19th June 1868 at Ballaarat, the son of an early pioneer. Educated at Mr. Pleasant State School and thence to Melbourne University. Practised as a Solicitor, he serviced in the Boer War and was a Colonel in the Middle East during the 1914-18 War.

A federal politician, a soldier, an historian, a collector, a patron of the arts Col. Crouch was a man’s man who never forgot the place of his birth. Best remembered in Ballaarat for the bequest to the Ballaarat Fine Art Gallery where the George Crouch Prize is given for oils and sculpture and the Minnie Crouch Prize is given for water colours, named after his father and sister respectively.

In the Botanical Gardens, a unique avenue of statues depicting the Prime Ministers of Australia, is the direct result of a gift given by R.A. Crouch to the City in 1940.

Richard Armstrong Crouch, a bachelor, a great Australian, died at Point Lonsdale, April 1949, aged 80 years.


BOTANICAL GARDENS

Statuary in Gardens. Unveiled 24th May 1884

The gift of Mr. Thomas Stoddart, these 12 statues of Carrara Marble represent Spring Summer Autumn Winter. Hercules and Winter were executed by Bertozzi, Hebe, Leda, Pamona, by B. Raggi; Flora by G. Marchetti; Baccante and Flora Farnese by Giovane Udny. The Council recognised the generosity of Mr. Stoddart, a Mining Man by placing a bust of him and a tablet to record the gift, in the Town Hall. Mr Stoddart is acknowledged to have given the impetus to the erection of statuary in Ballaarat.

Statuary Pavilion. Unveiled 3rd August 1888

The Flight from Pompeii by Bezoni and the other associated works, Ruth, Naome, Rebekah, Susannah and Modest housed in the Pavilion were all given to the City from a bequest by Mr. J. Russell Thomson, a mining man from Scotland, long resident in Ballaarat. The group was unveiled by the Premier of the Colony the Honourable Duncan Gillies.

Sir William Wallace.

Sculptured by Mr. Percival Ball of Melbourne who represented Wallace as standing upon the Abbey Craig watching for the precise moment when a blast upon the horn hanging at his side, will give the signal for his forces to fall upon the English as they cross Stirling Bridge. The statue is provided from the Thomson Bequest. Unveiled by the Hon. J. Nimmo on the date of the birthday of Mr. Thomson and the Queen.

Sundial.

Presented by Cr. T.T. Holloway, following his year as Mayor 1920-22. The dial was prepared by Cr. Holloway under the personal direction of Mr. P. Saracchi, Government Astronomer.

Claxton Memorial

Frederick Moses Claxton gave a great deal to this City, as Citizen, Councillor and as Mayor. Not the least amongst his contribution was unremitting advocacy for the lake and the Gardens. A public subscription erected in 1890, a memorial to him in the area he so advocated, the Gardens.

Marble Lions Unveiled 15th December 1893

Presented by the Hon. David Ham M.L.C. the two lions were informally unveiled by the Mayor, Cr. T.H. Thomson on the occasion of a Garden Party in the gardens. As the Morey Gates were not quite ready, the formal presentation did not take place until 17th August, 1894.

Morey Gates. Presented 17th August 1894

Erected as the main entrance gates to the Gardens and presented to the City by Cr. The Hon. Edward Morey M.L.C.

Reflection Bowl. Presented 22nd October 1938

On the 70th Anniversary of the founding in Ballaarat of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, the Worshipful Grandmaster, Bro. B.A. Falloon presented to the City this chromium plated mirror bowl about 38 centimetres in diameter, mounted on a granite base in a reflecting pool of water.

Begonia House. Opened 3rd March 1960

Replacing an older glass house this new building is the focal point of each Begonia Festival. Made possible by the generous support of Headen Cuthbert and Mabel Cuthbert with the assistance of the Tourist Development Authority, the house was opened by the Mayor, Cr. F.W. Oliver on the 3rd March 1960.

(Since this article was written, this building has also been demolished, and was replaced in 1995 by the Robert Clarke Centre - a state of the art walk-through floral Conservatory).

Adam Lindsay Gordon. Unveiled 26th October 1941

The ceremony was performed by Mr. C.R. Long. President of the Gordon Memorial Committee, Melbourne. The Bronze bust is by Mr Wallace Anderson.

McDonald Bequest. Erected in 1921

The bequest of the Hon. J.Y. McDonald M.L.C. provided the finance to build the Arbor and Pergola entrance to the Botanical Gardens. The balance of the bequest was used to erect the Bandstand on the lake side.

King Edward Memorial Pavilion.

Situated in a popular picnic area in the south gardens, this shelter was erected by public subscription and opened on 22nd December 1911 by Cr. T.T. Holloway.

Prime Ministers’ Avenue. Unveiled Saturday 2nd March 1940

Donated to the City by Colonel R.A. Crouch, the first six busts of Australian Prime Ministers were unveiled by the Governor Sir Winston Duggan who also officially named the Avenue. This unique memorial to the Prime Ministers is constantly kept up to date so as to record each man who has occupied this high office.

Olympic Monument. 18th January 1958

The Rotary Club of Ballaarat handed over to the Mayor, Cr. J.A. Chisholm this attractive monument topped by the five Olympic Circles supported on a boomerang symbolises the invitation to return. Erected by the Rotarians to Commemorate the bowling and Canoeing Events of the 16th Olympiad, contested over 200m Rowing course on Lake Wendouree, 23rd November – 1st December 1956. A plaque on the reverse side of the column lists the names of the countries which competed.

Ned Williams. Unveiled 18th December 1901

“Ned” Williams born England 1852, died in Ballaarat 1900, took a leading part in transforming Wendouree from a Swampy waste into a picturesque lake and was ever foremost in establishing and promoting aquatic and other manly sports. Erected by the friends of Edward King (Ned) Williams in commemoration of his qualities as a pioneer citizen, oarsman, athlete and sportsman. This white marble drinking fountain, at View Point, was unveiled by the Mayor Cr. J.J. Brokenshire.