Queen St, Warragul | The statue commemorates world boxing champion Lionel Rose, who was the first Aboriginal Australian to win a world boxing title.
This life-sized figure towers on a podium, gloves up and ready for action, surrounded by gardens and parklands. The statue commemorates world boxing champion Lionel Rose (1948-2011), who was the first Aboriginal Australian to win a world boxing title. Born near Warragul, Rose had many fights in Gippsland.
He was introduced to boxing by his father, an amateur boxer. Rose won his first major fight in 1963, the day after his father died and went on to take many other Australian and world titles. He was named Australian of the Year in 1968.
