Restoration of Reverend Hunter Goble Memorial

Restoration of the Reverend Joseph Hunter Goble memorial statue located on the median strip, 74 Geelong Road, Footscray is due to commence shortly. The monument was hit by a vehicle in February 2016 causing it to shift on its axis and a section of steps damaged.

Experienced heritage consultant and materials conservator has been engaged to restore and move the memorial statue to a safer place in 2025.

The 1.98 metre tall statue was carved from white Carrara marble by an unknown Italian sculptor and stands on a granite podium flanked by polished pink granite columns fabricated by former local stonemasons Taylor and Sons.

It commemorates Joseph Hunter Goble (1863-1932), renowned Baptist pastor born in Port Fairy, in 1863 but who later moved to Footscray to begin his celebrated pastorship in 1895 which continued until his death in 1932. Goble was a stirring preacher, revered by the local community for his passionate services held in Federation Hall which attracted congregations of over 2000 people.

A keen supporter of the Footscray Football Club, Goble championed the rights of working people and in 1926 became the first president of the Baptist Union of Australia. The cost of a life-size statue dedicated to Reverend Joseph Hunter Goble was raised by public subscription and erected on Geelong Road in 1933 before being relocated from the center to the side of Geelong Road in the late 1950s due to road widening works.

The memorial will be dismantled, assessed, realigned, cleaned and waxed before being signed off as structurally sound by an engineer and Council. Council has a duty of care as custodian of its Art and Civic History Collection to conserve the memorial, and the memory of one of its local icons, for future generations.

Location:

Median strip, 74 Geelong Road, Footscray (between service road and Geelong Road).

 

Further Information:

If you want more information please contact us at arts@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9688 0200.