Born in 1836 in England, Dr
John Bain came to Australia and settled in
Clare in 1865, and was described as England's greatest gift to
Clare.
Dr Bain was one of the last to wear the traditional doctors dress, a
grey bell topper, three quarter length morning coat and lightly striped trousers, and this traditional doctors dress was never relaxed, even in our high and extreme summer temperatures.
Dr Bain donated land to build the Institute as
well as many other important things to the people of
Clare. After his death and his sincere love of music, public subscriptions poured in to build a memorial in the form of a band rotunda.
On the 13th April 1904, the Bain Rotunda was officially opened and today the memorial remains a memorial to "
Clare's most generous and public spirited citizen and described as a man who had a heart as big as a mountain.
The rotunda is located in the
Clare Recreation Ground, Hope Street.