Swan Hill War Memorial
McCallum Street SWAN HILL, SWAN HILL RURAL CITY
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Statement of Significance
The War Memorial plantation, on the west side of Campbell Street between the two lanes of McCallum Street, is of local historical and aesthetic significance. Erected c.1919 and remodelled in the 1950s, the memorial is an important focus for the collective remembrance of historic and recent conflicts, and the local people who served in them. This has especial significance to Swan Hill as a town with a background of Soldier Settlement in the 1920s and again in the 1940s. Aesthetically, it is a distinctive and prominent element on the otherwise largely commercial Campbell Street streetscape, and it makes an important contribution as one of numerous war and municipal monuments along the McCallum Street plantation. The formal arrangement of conifer trees makes an important contribution.
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Swan Hill War Memorial - Physical Description 1
The War memorial plantation consists of a sunken paved area on a semi-circular plan, with a stepped terrace along the Campbell Street frontage and formally landscaped surrounds. In the centre is the memorial proper, flanked by flagpoles, which comprises a tapered stone plinth with a coved cornice and flat horizontal slab surmounted by a granite relief sculpture of a coat-of-arms. A marble slab with a moulded cornice and sinuously curved pediment is engraved with the names of those who fought in the First World War. This slab is encircled by a U-shaped slab of black granite, installed in 1958 to provide space for the names service personnel who fought in the of Second World War. On the rear side of the plinth is a metal plaque bearing the inscription: great war / 1914 / commemoration / of / australian soldiers / anzac / reserve.
The formal plantings include a pair of slender conifers to each side of the memorial, and a second pair of trees at the rear which have been trained into a topiary archway.
Swan Hill War Memorial - Physical Conditions
Good
Swan Hill War Memorial - Intactness
Good
Swan Hill War Memorial - Historical Australian Themes
Thematic Environmental History
5.4 Soldier Settlement
13.6 The WarsVeterans Description for Public
Swan Hill War Memorial - Veterans Description for Public
The Swan Hill memorial and planting is on the west side of Campbell Street between the two lanes of McCallum Street. It comprises of a wide white-painted concrete monument with a marble tablet, raised on a platform with flagpoles on the north and south sides. Behind the memorial confier trees have been shaped into an arch. The inscriptions include the names of soldiers who fought in the First World War, Second World Wars and the Korean War.
The memorial was originally erected around 1919 but was subsequently expanded and officially unveiled by Sir Dallas Brooks on 23rd May 1958. The granite coat-of-arms at the apex of the memorial was sculpted by M Bartolai, a local monumental mason. The plantation was installed around 1919 and remodelled in the 1950s.
Of special mention are the seven Hutchins brothers from Swan Hill who enlisted and served overseas during the Second World War. Only three, Private Ivan Robert Hutchins, 2/4th Field Ambulance, Bombardier Malcolm George 'Mike' Hutchins, 156th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, and Private William Ernest (Bill) Hutchins, 2/22nd Battalion (later 2/23rd Battalion), survived the war and returned to Australia. They had served in the Middle East and New Guinea.
With his brothers Private David Arthur Hutchins and Private Fred Hutchins, Private Eric Everard Hutchins of Woorinen North and a cousin, Private Thomas Hutchins of Rainbow, enlisted on 6 August 1941 in the 2/21st Battalion (Gull Force). All died as prisoners of war of the Japanese at Ambon, Netherlands East Indies. Fred died on 6 July 1945, David on 29 July 1945, Eric on 20 February 1942, and Thomas on 4 September 1945.
Private Alan Leslie Hutchins enlisted on 28 June 1940 in the 2/22nd Battalion (Lark Force). He died as a prisoner of war of the Japanese, on 31 March 1942 at Rabaul, New Britain.
Sapper Fredrick, 9th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, another cousin of the Hutchins brothers, was a member of the recovery team that visited Ambon in October 1945 to uncover mass graves and identify remains, including those of this cousins, at Laha airfield and Tantoei camp. A memorial plaque was unveiled by the brothers' sisters Myrtle and Mary on 5 December 2007.
In 2001 a new monument was built at the site to commemorate the Centenary of Federation. It names those from the district who served in the Boer War. An additional memorial was unveiled in 2002 which names Vietnam War veterans from the area and those who served in post-World War Two conflicts. This memorial also honours women from the district who have served in war.
Heritage Study and Grading
Swan Hill Rural - Rural City Of Swan Hill Heritage Study Stage 2
Author: Allom Lovell and Associates
Year: 2001
Grading: C
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SWAN HILL BRIDGEVictorian Heritage Register H0794
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Swan Hill & District HospitalNational Trust
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Iron House - Pioneer SettlementNational Trust
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