Nearly three years earlier it had been cut off, although it was discovered lying in nearby bushes about a fortnight later by one of the council gardeners.
During the time it was missing a replacement one was cast, but stored away after the original was found.
It was that replacement gnomon which has replaced the original which had not been recovered.
Mr Billing said specialist fitters had to be cautious and patient in getting the old fittings out so as not to cause any more damage to the already marked marblework.
The gnomon has been securely attached with a product Mr Billing said was "stronger than steel."
The only major issue the fitters and council staff had was its siting, he said.
"We had to make one hundred per cent sure it was facing the correct way," Mr Billing said.
At the time of last October's theft Mr Billing and council staff were left angry at the loss, but also left wondering why anyone would go to so much toil and trouble, and risk, for a slab of brass which weighed about 2kg.
At current brass scrap prices it would have fetched about $9.
There had been no suggestion any other material other than brass would be used for the gnomon as it was traditional.
"The integrity of the sundial would have been compromised and we did not want that," Mr Billing said.
