The sculptor of the Shakespeare sculpture was Andor Meszaros of Kew, Melbourne. The unveiling was undertaken by Mayor Arthur W. Nicholson. The statue was presented by L.F. North, general Manager of the Fidelity Trustee Company Limited, representing the late H.P. Stevens as one of the benefactors whose generosity enabled the Statue to be erected. The "portrait statue" shows how people saw Shakespeare as he wanted to be seen; as author-actor bowing to the applause. His position implies modesty, the knowledge of his own worth; majesty. his movement is at once humble and royal. The statue was positioned so people approaching or leaving Ballarat Civic Hall will see the statue full face, and the bowing attitude enables them to continue to study the face even from a few feet distant. The base in in the form of an Elizabethan stage, and is designed so that its sides correspond to the existing angles of its position. The proposal to erect a Statue of Shakespeare in Ballarat stemmed from a movement in 1889, when a committee was formed and a meeting held to inaugurate the proposal. At the initial meeting 258 pounds was contributed to the fund, which was later built on by further donations. In 1935 the fund stood at 945 pounds. In 1939 a bequest of 100 pounds was received from the estate of the late Frank Gale. In October 1952, the Fidelity trustee Company Limited notified of an extract of the will of Harry Person Stevens, in which be bequeathed the sum of 2,000 pounds to the fund for the erection of a Statue of William Shakespeare. In 1957 it was felt the fund had accumulated to an amount sufficient to carry out the intentions of the fund. at that stage the money in hand was approximately 4,000 pounds.A small committee was appointed to further the proposal. In May 1959 a panel of adjudicators met to determine the winner of a limited competition amongst sculptors. The committee comprised Cr G.L. Scott, Cr K.C. Webb, Cr W.E. Roff, J.H. Heinz representing the Fidelity Trustee Company Limited, and R.P. Evans of the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery. Norma Redpath, the nominee of the Victorian Sculptors' Society was present in the capacity of an adviser. Four page leaflet printed for the City of Ballarat Ceremony of handing over, accepting and unveiling the Shakespeare State at the Ballarat Civic Hall. The Shakespeare sculpture is cast in bronze and sits on a Stawell stone base. stevens, fidelity trustee company, gale, ballarat civic hall, shakespeare, north, nicholson, stawell stone, andor meszaros, sculpture

Colour photograph, printed on a postcard back format of SEC Ballarat No. 41 and 42 just to the north of Mair St on the double line portion of Lydiard St. Nth. No. 42 has destination of Sebastopol, No. 41, Lydiard St Nth and a SEC 'Everything is under control etc." roof advertisement. Buildings on both side of Lydiard St Nth in view, Union Fidelity Trustee Company and the Wimmera Cash Confectionery Supply shop.trams, tramways, lydiard st nth, mair st, tram 41

Yields information about the removal of the overhead in Lydiard St North, following the closure of the SEC operated tram system in Sept. 1971Set of two colour digital images taken by W. J. Llewelyn of the removal and cutting up of the overhead and cutting the copper trolley wire in Lydiard St North - Oct. 1971? Shows the method and equipment used. Has a van marked "Arch Smallgoods" in Lydiard St North. Shows the Mair St traffic light, and Railway Hotel on the corner. In the background is the George Hotel, St Paul's Technical College, and Union Fidelity Trustee Company buildings in the background. Warren Doubleday remembers being there at the time, but can't find a photograph of it and date.trams, tramways, lydiard st, closure, secv, overhead, demolition

Yields information about Lydiard St North near the Railway Station and its use by trams running special tours.Set of four 35mm slides - two Hanimex light blue grey plastic mounts and two Anscochrome white plastic mounts of trams in Lydiard St North. .1 - No. 39 and 26 waiting at the station stop. No. 26 is showing "Special". .2 - ditto with photographers in the background. No. 26 is entering the double track, indicating that the trams are returning to the depot. .3 - No. 33 arriving at the end of the double track with a passenger leaving the tram, with St Paul's Technical College in the background. .4 - ditto Have the St Paul's Technical College, S.F Motors Pty Ltd and Union Fidelity Trustee Company in the background.tramways, trams, lydiard st north, special trams, tram 39, tram 26, tram 33

The well known sculpture of English playwright William Shakespeare takes an elaborate bow before the Civic Hall, a performance and community center for Ballarat. The unique abstract and elongated mannerist style used in this cast bronze sculpture hints at the art deco style of the Hall behind. The sculptor, Andor Mészáros, was from Budapest but created much of his work in Melbourne. He also created works for Canterbury Cathedral in the UK and several carved stone sculptures for Sydney Hospital. The artwork was commissioned in 1959 through a widely publicised competition and installed in 1960. In addition to making sculptures, Mészáros was also renown as a creator of medallions. In 1951 he received 'the highest award' at the International Medallion Exhibition, Madrid and in 1964 he won the 'purchase prize' at the International Medallion Competition, Arezzo, Italy. From 1970 Mészáros worked with his younger son Michael, also a sculptor. In 2002, the City of Ballarat granted permission for Michael Mészáros to make a cast of the Ballarat Shakespeare artwork to create replica installed in Budapest. The Budapest installation commemorates Shakespeare's connection to the City and the achievements of Andor Mészáros. The artwork was unveiled by Mayor Arthur W. Nicholson. The statue was presented by L.F. North, general Manager of the Fidelity Trustee Company Limited, representing the late H.P. Stevens as one of the benefactors whose generosity enabled the Statue to be erected.The artwork is of aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratLarge bronze statue of William Shakespeare mounted on a stone plinthWilliam Shakespeare 1564-1616. Erected by benefactions from Harry Pearson Stevens who settled here 1855 and other Citizens unveiled by Arthur W. Nicholson J.P. Mayor.17.11.1960shakespeare, andor mészáros, civic hall, ballarat