First erected in 1858, a towering 18 metres of sculpted marble design, the Hotham Monument has long been an important landmark in Melbourne General Cemetery. Charles Hotham was the first titled Victorian Governor, and the monument was commissioned by Jane Lady Hotham as a tribute to her husband after he passed in 1855.
In 1996, the monument was partially dismantled and temporarily removed from the site due to structural issues. It is currently undergoing a multi-year restoration, with support from the National Trust of Australia.
Very few monuments and memorials are restored and preserved to this standard. All cemetery trusts within Victoria are guided by the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act of 2003 on the ability to touch or change monuments which are owned by members of the public.
The monument was designed and built by architect George Gilbert Scott and sculptor John Birnie Phillip in England. It is considered the only example of the pair’s work in Australia. It was shipped from England to Australia in pieces and erected by Melbourne architects Knight and Kerr. The complete monument stands at approximately 18 metres tall and is celebrated for its craftmanship and architectural design.
The process of restoring the monument has been one of considerable care, intricacy, and expertise, with a specialist team commissioned including stonemasons, conservators, engineers, architects, and builders. To find out more about the monument and the restoration process, please visit our website. https://smct.org.au/blog/hotham-monument-restoration
Please continue by entering this section of monuments. Walk with the Hotham monument on your right to the grave of Sir Redmond Barry, which is in the same row as Hotham.
