In Victorian gardens and parks statues were frequently used as a device to accentuate points of intersection between drives and paths and to add interest along drives and in gardens areas.

In the original design for Centennial Park a total of 31 statues ornamented the park. The subject matter included allegorical figures and political leaders from England, America and Australia. This collection also includes the recently restored and extremely rare statue of English author, Charles Dickens. So rare, in fact, that it is only one of two life-size statues of Dickens in the world!

Other statues and sculptures in Centennial Park were made by the famous Luxembourg pottery company, Villeroy and Boch.

Over subsequent years, due mainly to vandalism and weathering, the number of statues on display reduced considerably. By 1946, only 19 remained, and today only nine remain in Centennial Park, with a further statue in Kippax Lake, Moore Park.

The most intriguing aspect of the statues of Centennial Park, however, is that we only know the location of a few 'missing' statues - many have disappeared without a trace! Some stories (perhaps true, perhaps urban legend) have suggested that some were stolen in the middle of the night by thieves, or alternately many were buried under the levee bank near Kensington Ponds during the time of World War I.

As the story of the Charles Dickens Statue indicates, there may be some fascinating stories yet to uncover behind these statues!

In this section, you can learn about the following:

• Charles Dickens Statue
• Duck Sculpture
• Griffins
• Hand Upon Hand
• Kippax Lake Statue
• Sandstone Columns
• Sir Henry Parkes
• We Won (The Footballer)

In addition, you can learn about the missing statues of Centennial Park.