The strident sound of bagpipes reverberated across the town centre, several spectators donned their best tartan and the poetry of Robert Burns was evoked with gusto.

Even Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu affected a Scottish accent during his speech, amusing the crowd who gathered to celebrate the re-unveiling of one of the town’s old treasures.

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More than 250 people gathered to see the town’s Robert Burns statue for the first time since its $85,000 restoration and witness the official opening of the Corangamite Shire’s civic centre.

Vandals attacked the historic statue in the town’s botanic gardens two years ago, damaging the hat of the famed Scottish poet and his dog Luath’s legs.

Mr Baillieu told the crowd he was particularly keen to see the restored statue, given his family’s connection to the region and his Scottish heritage.

“Being an architect, or a former architect really, I appreciate how the new (civic) building harmonises with the historic architectural qualities of Camperdown,” he said.

“The Burns statue is one of the best monuments to Scottish immigration in Australia as well as a magnificent piece of art.”

Descendants of Scotsman John Greenshields, who sculpted the statue in 1830, and Australian William Taylor, who secured the statue for Camperdown in 1883, were present yesterday.

The restored statue will sit behind the front window of the new civic centre and be illuminated at night.

To cap off the ceremony, the Premier handed Corangamite Shire mayor Matt Makin a bottle of scotch whisky from the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire.

Mr Baillieu later met shire councillors to discuss local issues and also checked out Derrinallum plumber Gary Poole’s 1951 Holden car, which is expected to be part of the Monte Carlo Rally across Europe next year.