Statue of Hercules to be assessed

Works will investigate the stabilisation and repair of the statue of Hercules in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. 

Temporary fencing has been placed around the statue after recent annual maintenance works identified minor instability. 

The statue is carved from Carrara marble with a pedestal of Sicilian marble and a base of local Victorian granite.  

Hercules is one of the 12 marble statues gifted to the gardens by local stockbroker Thomas Stoddart, who purchased them while travelling in Italy. 

Hercules was a Roman hero and god, son of Zeus, and famous for his great strength and courage. 

An assessment will investigate whether further works are required to stabilise pins connecting parts of the statue together. 

The statue repairs are part of the City of Ballarat’s annual maintenance budget. 

Discover more about the Ballarat Botanical Gardens’ impressive collection of statues at https://ballarat.gardenexplorer.org