John Dunmore Lang Statue

John Dunmore Lang Statue, Sydney

Public Art : John Dunmore Lang Statue

Sculptor : © Giovanni Fontana (1821-1893)

Date : 1890

Description : A bronze statue of Dr John Dunmore Lang perched high above his pedestal. His right hand by his side palm facing out, in his left hand he holds what I assume are his scriptures.

Location : In the middle of Wynyard Park, Sydney, Australia.Though the statue of John Dunmore Lang is placed in the park near the site of his church it has unfortunately been placed with its back to his beloved Scots church and facing the location of the the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac), an institution he absolutely hated and continually criticised. Reverend Lang would have been none too happy.

History of John Dunmore Lang : John Dunmore Lang (25 August 1799 – 8 August 1878) was a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman who decided to follow his brother to Australia in 1823, to rid the new colony of the moral degradation he believed existed in New South Wales. He was probably right, given most of them were convicts or of convict background! Lang was not scared to bring his wrath down upon anyone he believed was sinning, including Governors.

Trivia : A sweet old lady by the name of Mrs. F. Ranken who knew Mrs. Lang, the Doctor's widow, told her that after much pressure she consented to unveil this statue. "I pulled the flag," she said, "but I didn't look at the statue. At night it was wet and cold, and I felt as if I wanted to go out and bring it in alongside the fire."

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