This statue is a memorial for Benjamin, Devonport’s beloved kitty that made the library his home for over 15 years.
When Benjamin was a kitten, he had a nice home with loving owners. However, his adventurous spirit took him further and further from the house. Day after day, he would turn up at the library doors. In 2002, his owners made the decision to gift him to the library, as it was clearly his favourite place to be. The librarians were ecstatic to have Benjamin! From then on, Benjamin was the Devonport library’s friend, mascot, and head librarian.
In 2015, Devonport received a new library. When the plans were made, it was specifically requested that the new building “cater to a contented tabby cat”. The new library was built with a special cat door, opened only by Benjamin’s microchip. Benjamin could come and go as he pleased, spending his days wandering about town and his nights sleeping safely in the staff room.
When Benjamin wasn’t shelving books or assisting customers, he could be found napping on the shelves or playing on the beanbags in the children’s area. Benjamin fiercely defended his library against dogs and was known to hold up traffic on his way to the fish & chips shop. The local community contributed to his food and vet bills and the library staff ensured he made it home at night. Benjamin would get visitors from all over Auckland, and the world, and he was always up for a pat.
Sadly, on 27 January 2017, Benjamin was hit by a car, ending his extraordinary life. The loss was felt deeply in Devonport. A celebration of life for Benjamin was held on 9 February 2017, with over 200 people attending to mourn their cherished kitty.
Shortly after, it was suggested that this local legend be remembered with a statue. An online crowdfund was organised and there was a fundraiser movie night featuring the film A Street Cat Named Bob. The statue was completed in 2020 but the unveiling was delayed by the lockdowns. Later that year, this statue was dedicated.
If you would like to learn more, the library staff inside are always happy to have a chat about Benjamin. You can take home a cute bio sheet available at the front desk. On the second floor, you can visit Benjamin’s ashes and see a nice portrait of him. He is also featured in a book - Benjamin’s Book of Library Fun by Arthur Whelan.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Benjamin the Librarian Cat, a special member of the Devonport community and library ambassador to the world.
Logging requirements - To claim this virtual, take a photo giving Benjamin a nice pat. Please include either your cache name, device, or yourself in the photo.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.