He collapsed fighting for the rights of his people, and now, just steps away from where he gave his dramatic last speech and later died, legendary Aboriginal rights activist William 'Bill' Ferguson has been immortalized in bronze in western New South Wales.

WARNING: This story contains images of deceased Indigenous people.

Key points: William 'Bill' Ferguson was an Aboriginal rights activist who died fighting for the rights of his people, in 1950 at the age of 60 in his home town of Dubbo

William 'Bill' Ferguson was an Aboriginal rights activist who died fighting for the rights of his people, in 1950 at the age of 60 in his home town of Dubbo Now, after a five-year campaign led by his descendants and supporters, a life-size bronze statue of Mr Ferguson has been unveiled in the town's main street

Now, after a five-year campaign led by his descendants and supporters, a life-size bronze statue of Mr Ferguson has been unveiled in the town's main street Mr Ferguson founded the Aboriginal Progressive Association to fight for Indigenous rights and led protests at the 1938 National Day of Mourning — declared on January 26

After a five-year campaign led by his descendants and supporters, a life-size statue of Mr Ferguson has been unveiled in the main street of Dubbo — the town he called home up until his death in 1950 aged 60.

Mr Ferguson is best known for his work organising the legendary 1938 National Day of Mourning, the precursor to what is now known as NAIDOC week.

"What he achieved in the time he had was phenomenal, but, gee, he needed another lifetime," artist Brett Garling said.

Mr Garling was commissioned to create the commemorative work.

"You're talking about the Martin Luther King of Australia in terms of what he was able to achieve," he said.

Bill Ferguson collapsed after his final speech, and died of hypertensive heart disease on January 4, 1950, in Dubbo Base Hospital. ( Supplied: AIATSIS Collection )

The bronze statue has been months in the making in Mr Garling's studio near Dubbo.

He wanted to set Ferguson in his most powerful stance.

"Apparently Bill would stand there with a rolled-up newspaper and beat it in his hand as he spoke," Mr Garling said.

"He was quite the speaker and could draw a good crowd and at the appropriate time he would smack his newspaper into his hand to make a point."

Equal rights for all

Artist Brett Garling and Willy Ferguson have forged a bond during the creation of Bill Ferguson's bronze sculpture. ( ABC Western Plains: Jessie Davies )

Born in Darlington Point in 1882, Ferguson was the second son of seven children to a Scottish shearer and an Aboriginal housemaid.

At the age of 14 he left formal schooling after only 18 months to take up work as a shearer like his father.

It was in the sheds that he became involved in political activism and became an organiser for the Australian Workers' Union.

Macquarie Regional Library historian Simone Taylor said during the 1920s Ferguson grew frustrated at the powers held by the Aborigines Protection Board, which had the ability to remove children from families because their parents were Aboriginal.

In 1936 he had enough so he decided to launch his own organisation: the Aboriginal Progressive Association.

Ms Taylor said the formation of the group, which he launched with the help of Pearl Gibbs and William Cooper, was a turning point in the Australian civil rights movement.

"It was so important because it brought together a number of Aboriginal activists from the time period and allowed them to work together," he said.

A pivotal day for the Aboriginal rights movement

January 26, 1938: Bill Ferguson holds the sign that reads 'Aborigines claim citizens rights'. ( Supplied: AIATSIS Collection )

January 26, 1938, marked the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Australia.

While colourful celebrations were held across the country, a group of Aboriginal men and women dressed in black gathered to march at Australia Hall in Sydney and declared it a Day of Mourning.

Mr Ferguson, along with leading activists William Cooper and Doug Nicholls, organised the march to seek equality within the community.

Historian Simone Taylor said this day would prove a catalyst for major events that would have a powerful impact on the Aboriginal community.

"Following the National Day of Mourning, the marchers held the first national conference that was held by and for Aboriginal people so that was a highly significant event in aboriginal and civil rights history," she said.

As momentum built in the wake of the march, Ferguson, along with well-known activists William Cooper and Jack Patten, met with Prime Minister Joseph Lyons to campaign for equal rights.

Ms Taylor credits Ferguson with making change for his people at a time when they could not vote in state elections, purchase alcohol, and were segregated in public places.

"As Dubbo continues to grow and develop, its citizens should be proud to recognise its strong connection with the Aboriginal rights movement," she said.

Willy Ferguson has been campaigning for a statue of his grandfather, Bill Ferguson, for nearly five years. ( ABC Western Plains: Jessie Davies )

A grandson's curiosity

One of seven children, Bill Ferguson went on to have 12 children of his own.

One of his grandsons, John 'Willy' Ferguson, longed to know him, but never really had the chance.

"My father was a very strict man and every time I asked him questions about his father he would put his head down and walk away," Mr Ferguson said.

"Going back, that's what adults used to do."

Over the past two months he as driven more than 8,000 kilometres travelling from his home in Lightning Ridge to Dubbo to prepare for the sculpture's unveiling.

"He didn't have no cars, no bikes, he just walked around, or got a horse and went places. Me, I've been driving," Mr Ferguson said.

For five years he has led the fundraising campaign to commemorate his grandfather through public art.

A large financial contribution from Dubbo Regional Council earlier this year made the life-size work possible.

"We've had limbs fall over, branches and trees fall over but we threw them out of the road and got them done," he said.

"I'm very proud of what we're doing."

