Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial
375 Neerim North Road, NEERIM NORTH VIC 3831
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
The Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial Reserve at 375 Neerim North Road, Neerim North. The following elements contribute to the significance of the place:
- The bluestone war memorial
- The mature Sequoia giganteum, adjacent to the memorial
- Other mature trees on the site and on the adjoining roadside reserve
How is it significant?
The Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial Reserve is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to Baw Baw Shire.
Why is it significant?
It is historically and socially significant as a place has strong and enduring associations with the Neerim North community and remains the focus of remembrance day commemorations. It is historically important as a tangible symbol that recalls the creation of the Neerim North Soldiers' Hall, a place that played an important role in the development of the Neerim North community. The enduring connection is demonstrated by the memorials to other conflicts and people associated with this site that have been added to the site over time. (Criteria A & G)
The mature trees in the reserve and on the adjoining roadside have aesthetic significance as part of an important cultural landscape that also includes the mature trees on the former school site, now the H.F. McCay Aboretum. (Criterion E)
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Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial - Physical Description 1
The Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial Reserve is situated at the north-west corner of Neerim North Road and McKenzie Road, opposite the former Neerim North Primary School site, now the H.F. McCay Aboretum. At the front of the reserve is the War Memorial, which is astone cairn on a broad stone base. A white marble plaque on it commemorates the men from the Neerim, Noojee and Fumina districts who served in WW1. Later, brass, plaques commemorate WW2 soldiers and the Soldiers Memorial Hall of 1921 that once stood here.
The reserve contains a variety of mature and semi-mature trees, including a number of conifers. Some have plaques at the base, with dedications as described in the History. A notable planting, adjacent to the memorial, and partially situated within the road reserve, is a mature Giant Redwood (Sequoia giganteum), one of a number of mature trees within the Neerim road reserve extending to the west opposite the school site - these are believed to have been planted by former school children as part of Arbor Day activities (please refer to the separate citation in this Study for the H.F. McCay Aboretum). The trees within the Reserve and the Aboretum form an impressive cultural landscape, which is a well-known (and loved) local landmark.
Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial - Historical Australian Themes
8. COMMUNITY & CULTURAL LIFE
8.8 CommemoratingVeterans Description for Public
Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial - Veterans Description for Public
The Neerim North Soldiers' Memorial, at 375 Neerim North Road, is a rough stone cairn erected to commemorate the First World War. The cairn is on the site of the old memorial hall, which had been built in 1923 to commemorate returned soldiers and marked by magnificent trees. The hall had fallen into disrepair and was destroyed by a fire in 1981.
The cairn was raised on money from the sale of the old Neerim North School building and was unveiled on April 10th 1983. Attached to the cairn are the marble plaques of the former hall, which bear the names of those who served in the First World War, and a bronze plaque with names of those who served in the Second World War. The names had previously been recorded on a wooden honour roll in the hall (now located in Neerim Junction Hall). Nearby is an Aleppo Pine, said to be a descendant of the original 'Lone Pine' at Gallipoli and donated by Legacy has been planted.
Heritage Study and Grading
Baw Baw - Baw Baw Shire Heritage Study Stage 2
Author: Context P/L
Year: 2010
Grading: LocalBaw Baw - Baw Baw Heritage Study (Stage 1)
Author: Context Pty. Ltd
Year: 2006
Grading:
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Neerim North Soldiers' MemorialVic. War Heritage Inventory
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