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Story: Memorials and monuments

Unveiling the Seddon memorial, Royal Oak, 1909

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Unveiling the Seddon memorial, Royal Oak, 1909

A number of memorials to New Zealand political leaders were erected in the early 20th century. Following his death in 1906, Premier Richard Seddon was memorialised in at least six places. This memorial at the centre of a roundabout in Auckland was opened in the rain on 7 July 1909. The monument served as a gas lamp and also a drinking fountain. It was removed in 1947. The most famous memorial to Seddon was the statue in front of Parliament in Wellington, which was put up in 1915.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 7-A3064

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Memorials and monuments – Civilian memorials, 1900–1945, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/32553/unveiling-the-seddon-memorial-royal-oak-1909 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 14 March 2012, updated 26 March 2015.