Found in front of the State Library, eastern side of Macquarie St Sydney, it is one of the first statues erected in Australia.
Governor Bourke, an Irishman was the 8th Governor of the colony and a very popular one by all accounts. He was instrumental in introducing the "trial by jury" system which replaced the military justice system which had been in place since 1788.
He also made a fairer system of granting land by stopping free land grants and putting land up for auction and if less than five shillings was offered, it was not sold or if the offers rose above that price it was given to the highest bidder. This was regarded as a very fair arrangement, and as a large number of money was annually received from the sale of the land, the Government was able to resume the practice , discontinued in 1818, of assisting poor people in Europe to emigrate to the colony.
A popular Governor who was sorely missed by the colony.
You've captured him well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim.
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