White marble statue of two men and a donkey. One man is riding the donkey while the other man holds him upright.

Simpson and his donkey: The replica statue was donated to Council by a local family and can be found at the Victory Memorial Gardens.

Parks & Recreation

Statue finds new home at the Victory Memorial Gardens

Published: 10 May 2024 2:57pm

A statue of Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey found a new home at the Victory Memorial Gardens after it was donated by a local family.

Council was approached earlier this year by the family of a deceased estate looking to donate the statue. Council crews installed the statue in the gardens earlier this week, and it can be found in a garden bed adjacent to the playground.

The war hero ‘Simpson’ is known for his service as a 3rd Field Ambulance stretcher-bearer at Gallipoli where he would rescue wounded men by carrying them on the back of his donkey.

The statue is a replica of the original bronze sculpture currently residing in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

If you’re walking through the Victory Memorial Gardens, be sure to check out this new addition.

Face of marble donkey statue.