By the Dickens, Charles is back

One of only two life-size statues in the world of the iconic writer Charles Dickens was returned to Centennial Park in Sydney on Monday.

NSW Governor Professor Marie Bashir unveiled the statue, which has been missing for 40-odd years.

Dickens requested in his will that no public memorials be erected in his honour, making the statue one of only two that exist in the world.

Acting Director and Chief Executive of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust Marianna Preston said Centennial Park was home to the statue for about 80 years from 1891 before it was removed from the park and put in storage.

“It then embarked on a journey to destinations known and unknown over a period of 40-odd years , losing its head in the process,” she said.

“The NSW Dickens Society conducted a public campaign to locate the statue, which helped us reclaim it and move into reconstruction mode.”

Ms Preston said the society received help from many people – including mysterious, anonymous telephone messages – in the quest to find Dickens and is delighted that there is now a “new head on old shoulders”.