Historical information

James Russell Thompson (1818-1886) a successful mining investor and stockbroker of the Ballarat Stock Exchange, gifted the pavilion and the statues within, as a 10,000 pound bequest to the City in his will. The pavilion, designed by architect T.E. Molloy on an octagonal plan with a convex curved roof, was constructed in 1887, and houses the statues Flight from Pompeii, Rebekah, Susannah, Modesty and Ruth. The pavilion is a major feature of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, and unique in Victoria. It is a favourite subject for photographers, and Mrs Strange has captured it surrounded by massed small begonias.

Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library.