Captain Arthur Phillip Bust

Captain Srthur Phillip Bust, Sydney, Australia

Public Art : Captain Arthur Phillip

Sculptor : © Jean Hill

Date Unveiled : 14th July, 1954.

Description : Bronze bust of the first Governor of Australia and founder of the site of Sydney, Captain Arthur Phillip. More a fascinating study of fashion than of founder. I never imagined the founder of Sydney with a long platt running down his back, nor of it being tidily kept in place with a bow, but there it is. Dare I mention the oh so frilly shirt ?

Location : Outside the Museum of Contemporary Art, West Circular Quay, Sydney, Australia

Inscriptions :

Captain Arthur Phillip R.N.
In command of the First Fleet
landed on the shore of the cove
on January 28th 1788
and established the first British
settement in Australia.

On Feburary 7th 1788
The Royal Commission was read
proclaiming Captain Phillip
as Captain-General and
Governor-in-chief of
New South Wales

R.A.H.S.

This memorial was unveiled
on the 14th July 1954 by
his excellency the Governor
Sir John Northcott, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. , C.B.

This memorial was erected by
the maritime services board of N.S.W.
in conjunction with the Royal
Australian Historical Society.
The bust of Captain Phillip was
sculptured by Mrs Jean Hill,
daughter of Sir Edward Hallstrom,
through whose generousity the bust
was donated.

Brief History of Captain Arthur Phillip : Captain Arthur Phillip (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the site which is now the city of Sydney. Here is a really short history lesson, when Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay (First Fleet), on 18 January 1788, following eight months at sea, he was none too amused with the location recommended by Joseph Banks. The bay had inadequate anchorage and inadequate water supply for the 11 ships and hundreds of disgruntled passengers (and livestock), so he set out with a party of officers in a small boat to find a more suitable location. They eventually found the perfect harbour and Phillip christened it Sydney Cove, after the British Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, in recognition of Lord Sydney's role in issuing the charter authorising Phillip to establish a colony. Phillip was the first New South Wales Governor from 26th January 1788 until 10th December,1792.

Interesting Tidbit : Alas, poor old Captain Phillip's bones are missing! Yes indeed. The remains of the founder of Sydney, have been lost by the Church of England, and no one knows the location to this day. In 2007
Geoffrey Robertson QC declared it his life mission to find the location of Captain Phillip's remains and have his bones returned to Australia, where he believes they will be better cared for.

Captain Arthur Phillip Bust

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