WAR MEMORIALS
Port Fairy-Hamilton Road Byaduk-Penshurst Road BYADUK, Southern Grampians Shire
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
The Byaduk War Memorials are of historic, social and aesthetic significance to the township of Byaduk and the Southern Grampians Shire.
Why is it significant?
The Byaduk War Memorials are of historic significance because they commemorates at a local level some of the most important events in the national history of Australia and especially the roles of those from the community who served and died.
They are of social significance as the focus of acts of commemoration such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, and as a place of homage for the community.
They are of aesthetic significance for their use of traditional form, style and iconography to express deep meaning. This significance is enhanced by the setting and location, in the centre of the township.
-
-
WAR MEMORIALS - Physical Conditions
Both the memorials are in excellent condition.
WAR MEMORIALS - Physical Description 1
There are two war memorials located in Byaduk, as well as an avenue of honour dedicated to those who served in World War One, and a Memorial planted dedicated to those who served in World War Two. Both memorials are located in Byaduk's 'memorial precinct'. This area contains several memorial buildings, a memorial sports ground, a memorial reserve, the Mechanic's Institute, the World War One Avenue of Honour and several other memorials.
The larger of the two memorials is dedicated to those who served and fell a on the east side of the road, and is associated with the Avenue of Honour along the Port Fairy-Hamilton Road and along the Byaduk-Penshurst Road. The smaller is on the west side of the road. The memorials are almost but not exactly opposite each other. The other Avenue of Honour is along both sides of the Byaduk-Penshurst Road.
The larger memorial is one of the most elaborate in the Shire being raised on a three step podium of rough hewn granite, around which there is a low fence of iron chains supported eight small rough hewn obelisks. The base is a single block of smoothly dressed bluestone [or basalt], with sides which are rough hewn, tapered for its upper half and inscribed with the words "Their name shall live forever". The plinth is comprised of three stones. The upper and lower are rough hewn granite and the shaft is polished bluestone and inscribed on the west of front side with the words "Erected in remembrance of the Byaduk soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War of 1914 - 1919." The north and south sides are inscribed with the names of those who died in the First World War. The east or rear side is inscribed with the names of those who died in the Second World War. This stone is capped by two blocks of rough hewn bluestone, the lower rough hewn and tapering outwards, the upper dressed and curved inwards. A statue in white marble of an ordinary soldier stands at ease. The memorial is on slab of concrete edged by bluestone, in front of which are two pentagonal blocks of rendered brick surmounted by five pointed stars. The whole memorial is surround by a Cyclone wire fence with a gate at the front. A white flagpole stands in the north-east corner of the area.
The smaller memorial is comprised of four stones. A rough hewn block of bluestone with dressed edges forms the base. The three other stones are polished red granite. A square block forms a lower plinth. It includes the inscription in gold lettering to "Pte.. Donald Ross. / Byaduk Det. V.M.R. First Victorian Contingent. / Died from illness contracted in the [Boer] War / Nov. 15th 1900 aged 23 years. / "Lest we forget"" The upper plinth is tapered and bears the inscription "Erected to the Memory of / Pte. Frank Suttie / Byaduk Det. V.M.R. / First Victorian Contingent / killed in Action at Baster's Nek ' Feb. 10th 1900. / Aged 32 Years. / the first Victorian soldier who fell in the Boer War." (The claim that Suttie was the first Victorian killed is incorrect.) The plinth stones are surmounted by the obelisk which tapers and is topped by a pyramidal point.
Both memorials were erected by Wooles and Carpenter, stonemasons and 'sculptors', of Warrnambool according to ungilded lettering on their bases.
A plantation of trees was planted after World War 2 to commemorate those who served. It is located to the north of the township, on the hill overlooking Byaduk, on the east side of the Hamilton-Port Fairy Rd.WAR MEMORIALS - Historical Australian Themes
Theme 7: Governing
7.7 Defending Australia
7.7.3 Going to war
Theme 8: Developing Australia's cultural life
8.8 Remembering the fallen
Theme 9: Marking the phases of Life
9.7.3 Remembering the dead.WAR MEMORIALS - Usage/Former Usage
war memorial
WAR MEMORIALS - Integrity
High degree of intactness
WAR MEMORIALS - Physical Description 2
Pte Frank Suttie, the first Victorian soldier who fell in the Boer War
Pte Donald Ross, who died from illness contracted during the Boer War
Lieut. Walter S Filmer, 22nd Batt. Fell in action Bullecourst, 3rd May 1917
Pte. Denis F Bunworth, 22nd Batt. Died of wounds Morlancourt, 9th June 1918
Pte. Michael Bunworth, 8th Batt. Fell in action, Merris, 1st Aug. 1918
Corp. William T Harper, 8th Batt., Fell in action Strazelle, 3rd May 1918
Corp. Walter R Kinghorn, 4th L.H., Fell in action, Beersheba, 31st Oct. 1917
Bomdr. Wilfred S. Merlin, 6th Field Arty. Died of illness, Hem, 1st Aug. 1916
Pte. Charles H Stewart, 6th Batt., Fell in action, Rosieres, 9th Aug 1918
Lieut. Simon Fraser, 58th Batt., Fellin action, Bullcourt, 12th May 1917
Pte. Henry A.T. Gibbins, 1st Pioneer Batt., Died of wounds, Pozieres, 25th July 1916
Pte. Albert V. Harper, 58th Batt. , Fell in action Ypres, 30th Oct. 1917
Pte Stanley O. Miller, 38th Batt., Fell in action, France, 7th June 1918
Private Andrew F. Ross, 45th Batt., Died of Illness after return, Sydney, 10th May 1919
Far. Sgt. Samuel Ross, 11th L. H. ,Fell in action, Te El Sharia, 7th Nov. 1917
Pte. Alex. R. McNair, 2/8 Batt. , Died of wounds, Tobruk, Libya, 23rd Jan. 1941
Pte Roy H. Harman, 2/2 Pioneers, Fell in Action, De Mour, Syria, 8th July 1941
Wooles and Carpenter, stonemasons and 'sculptors', of WarrnamboolWAR MEMORIALS - Physical Description 3
Road Reserve
Heritage Study and Grading
Southern Grampians - Southern Grampians Shire Heritage Study
Author: Timothy Hubbard P/L, Annabel Neylon
Year: 2002
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
AVENUE OF HONOURSouthern Grampians Shire
-
HOLMES FLOUR MILL (FORMER)Southern Grampians Shire
-
BLUESTONE MILL BRIDGESouthern Grampians Shire
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
10 Down StreetYarra City
-
-