Skipton - Sir Henry Bolte Memorial

The Sir Henry Bolte Memorial features a sculpted bust of Victoria’s longest-serving Premier, who spent most of the first 26 years of his life in Skipton.

Sir Henry Edward Bolte GCMG was born in Ballarat on 20 May 1908. His family moved to Skipton, where his parents operated the Ripon Hotel, the Skipton Hotel and later a haberdashery store. He attended Skipton Primary School before receiving a scholarship to board at Ballarat Grammar School.

Bolte represented the Victorian electorate of Hampden from 1947 to 1972 and served as Premier of Victoria for 17 years, from 1955 to 1972. His ashes and those of his wife, Jill, are interred at Skipton Cemetery.

The bust was created by sculptor Louis Laumen and unveiled by the Hon Terry Mulder MP on 1 November 2014 as part of celebrations marking 175 years of European settlement in Skipton and district.

A time capsule commemorating the anniversary was buried beneath the memorial on 1 November 2014. It is scheduled to be opened on 1 November 2039.