The unveiling of the William Wallace Statue in 1889; biography of William Wallace; biography of sculptor, Percival Ball.The Unveiling of the William Wallace Statue demonstrates the importance and loyalty to Scottish heritage of Ballarat people in the nineteenth century. 01Small coloured photograph of the Wallace Statue. Ref: The National Trust for Scotland. Newspaper Articles: 02 Ballarat Courier 12/9/1997, "Celebration of Battle's Anniversary". 03 Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol.X., 1892, "Wallace, Sir William", 04 The Ballarat Courier, 24/5/1889, 05 The Ballarat Star,24/5/1889, 06 Ballarat Star, 25/5/1889, 07 The Ballarat Star, 25/5/1889, "The Statue of Sir William Wallace" "Unveiling Ceremony" 08 "William Wallace", Wikipedia, 2011, 09 Percival Ball, Sculptor, Wikipedia, 2011. 010 Ball, Percival, Australian Dictionary of Biography,2006-2011.Ballarat Courier newspaper article, 12/9/1997 in blue biro, top left corner. Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol X, in black biro. Research by R. D. Mosman, April, 1997, FBBG logo. Courier Newspaper article, 24/5/1889 in black biro, research by R.D.Mosman, April, 1997. Photocopies taken by the Clark Centre 19/2/2002. Transcription of articles by John Garner. william wallace, percival ball, unveiling of wiliam wallace statue, statues in the ballarat botanical gardens, statue of a scottish hero, john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat, statues, wallace

The imposing white marble statue of William Wallace by Percival Ball stands approximately 8 feet tall with helmet and sward. The statue is mounted on a granite base with a marble plaque inscribed in praise of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior famous for leading the defeat of English forces at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. The artwork is located in the Botanic Gardens in Ballarat, Victoria and can be seen upon entry from the main gates. Sculpted by Percival Ball of Melbourne and unveiled in 1889, the statue was funded by a £3000 bequest to the gardens by James Russell Thomson, a Scottish miner who made his fortune during the Victorian gold rush. It was intended as a tribute to Thomson’s Scottish origins. The front the statue bears an inscription from Robert Burns’ 1785 sentimental poem ‘The Cotter’s Saturday Night’, which also lauds Wallace as a noble patriot and hero.The artwork is of historic and aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratWhite marble statue of William Wallace on plinthWALLACE Bequeathed to the public of Ballarat by the late James Russell Thomson unveiled 24th May 1889. "Oh thou! who poured the patriotic tide that streamed through Wallace's undaunted heart, who dared to nobly stem tyrannic pride, Or nobly die, the second glorious part, (The patriot's God, peculiarly thou art. His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!) Oh never, never, Scotia's realm desert; But still the patriot, and the patriot bard, in bright succession raise her ornament and guard;" (Burns)sir william wallace, statues, statuary pavillion, botanical gardens, lake wendouree, william wallace statue, charles summer, percival ball