Robbie’s Birthday

#313 Do - Celebrate the birthday of poet Robert Burns and the history of his bronze statue that sits so prominently in our city centre. In the 1870s, a statue was suggested to celebrate the poet's work, Dunedin’s Scottish roots and the connection to Rev Thomas Burns, the poet’s nephew, who was a prominent figure in the founding of Otago. Sculptor Sir John Steell of Scotland was commissioned to create it (there are 3 other versions around the world - in Dundee, New York and London) and it was sent to Dunedin in 1886. He sits on an elm tree stump (a symbol of Scotland), his farming background is represented in the plough-sock and his poetry in the scroll. It was in 1887 the statue was unveiled by Miss Agnes Burns, the great grand niece of Robert Burns. A Burns Supper has been held annually in Dunedin since 1855 (it's tonight at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum) and the annual Robert Burns Poetry Competition prize giving is on tonight at the Dunedin City Library with readings of the winning poems. Love this local history and celebration of literature

#history #event