Lost in the mists of time for over 40 years, this statue of Charles Dickens has quite a story. The Charles Dickens statue stands here in Centennial Park. It commemorates the renowned English novelist and social commentator. Although Dickens never actually visited Australia, his links to this country are surprisingly strong.
Dickens’s interest in Australia shines through in his literary works. Some say that Colonial identities inspired some of his most notable characters. Wackford Squeers gets transported to New South Wales in Nicholas Nickleby. Uriah Heep faces transportation for life in David Copperfield. Abel Magwitch becomes a wealthy sheep farmer in Great Expectations.
Dickens saw Australia as a land of opportunity. He thought reformed felons and the downtrodden poor could thrive here. They could avail themselves of opportunities unimaginable in England.
Interestingly, two of Charles Dickens’s sons, Alfred and Edward, immigrated to Australia in the 1860s. They became active in political and cultural life here. Alfred became a stock and station agent in Victoria. Edward became a station manager, civil servant, and member of the NSW Legislative Assembly.
Dickens actively encouraged their emigration. He even planned to travel to Australia and write a book. But sadly, it never happened.
Dickens also used his popular journal, Household Words, to shape public opinion about Australia. He published numerous articles about convicts, migrants, miners, and explorers. These stories molded perceptions of Australia in both Britain and the colonies.
This Charles Dickens statue has had quite the journey. It was installed in Centennial Park around 1891. But in 1972, it was removed and placed in storage. For over 40 years, its location remained a mystery.
A volunteer at the NSW Library, Gaenor Vallack, started the search. She saw a picture of the statue and wondered where it was. The Dickens Society then began a quest to find their Mr. Dickens.
The statue was eventually found in protective custody at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Vandals had damaged it. It had even lost its head.
In 2008, the Botanic Gardens Trust returned the statue to Centennial Park. The sculptor Ruben Varfi reconstructed Dickens’s head. The NSW Public Works team restored his right hand, baby finger, scroll, and quill.
After much research, the Charles Dickens statue was placed here. This is the junction of Dickens Drive and Loch Avenue. It stood here for 74 years, from 1897 until 1971. The statue was unveiled on Charles Dickens’s birthday in February 2011. So, here stands Dickens, a lasting tribute to a literary giant.