Maquette, Statue of E.G. FitzGibbon (Town Clerk 1856-91) c1908

Summary

Standing figure in Town Clerk regalia, holding open book in left hand. Woven basket containing upright scrolls at left foot. Edmund FitzGibbon was born in Ireland and worked as a clerk in London before immigrating to Australia in 1852. Four years later, he became Melbourne’s town clerk. FitzGibbon secured several parks and gardens for the city and was instrumental in introducing tram tracks. In 1891, he became the first chair of the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works. Upon FitzGibbon's death it was set about with some haste the James White was commissioned make the memorial. It appears that Charles Douglas Richardson submitted this maquette as part of that process.