Rockingham War Memorial

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Rockingham War Memorial
Australia
Rockingham War Memorial, view from the north-west, March 2020.jpg
The Rockingham War Memorial
For World War I
EstablishedAugust 13, 2005 (2005-08-13)
Location 32°16′35″S115°43′56″E / 32.276389°S 115.7322°E / -32.276389; 115.7322 Coordinates: 32°16′35″S115°43′56″E / 32.276389°S 115.7322°E / -32.276389; 115.7322
Statistics source: monumentaustralia.org.au

The Rockingham War Memorial is a military memorial in the City of Rockingham, Western Australia, dedicated to what is now the Australian Defence Force. [1]

Memorial

Bronze soldier at the memorial Rockingham War Memorial, August 2019 03.jpg
Bronze soldier at the memorial

The monument was dedicated on 13 August 2005 by Mark McGowan, then Western Australian Minister for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Barry Sammels, Mayor of the City of Rockingham, and Mark Stevens, President of the City of Rockingham RSL Sub-Branch. [1] The dedication took place two days before the 60th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. [2]

The centre piece of the war memorial was originally located on the opposite side of Flinders Lane but relocated to its current location in 2007, when the area was redeveloped. [3]

The memorials main feature are its fourteen classical styled columns, one for each major conflict Australia participated in. The 5.5 metre tall columns are arranged in a circle of a diameter of 30 metres. A fourteenth column socket has been left empty to commemorate Australian soldiers missing in action. The three branches of the Australian Defence Force, Army, Air Force and Navy, are represented by a QF 25-pounder field gun, a propeller and an anchor. The entrance to the memorial is guarded by two bronze soldiers, created by Perth sculptor Andrew Kay. Each weights 160 kilograms and is double the human size. [2]

In 2015, a memorial was added to commemorate the centenary of World War One. It displays a Roll of Honour with sixteen names listed of those from the district who served during the war. [4]

Apart from the Rockingham War Memorial, two other major war memorials exist in Rockingham, the Rockingham Naval Memorial Park, dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy, [5] and the Z Special Unit Memorial, in honour of the Z Special Unit. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rockingham War Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 Mark Stevens (President City of Rockingham RSL). "Rockingham War Memorial". ausemade.com.au. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  3. "Flinder's Hall and Rose Garden (fmr)". inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au. Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. "Centenary of World War One". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  5. "Naval Memorial Park". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  6. "Z Special Unit Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 1 April 2020.