Apple Tree Creek War Memorial facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Apple Tree Creek War Memorial
Apple Tree Creek War Memorial, 2014
Location	Bruce Highway, Apple Tree Creek, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1919 - 1930s (interwar period)
Built	1921
Architect	Andrew Lang Petrie
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Apple Tree Creek War Memorial, Apple Tree Creek
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600607
Significant period	1921- (social) 1921- (historical) 1911-1921(fabric)
Significant components	memorial surrounds/railings, cricket pitch, bandstand/rotunda, memorial - obelisk, rodeo ring
Builders	Andrew Lang Petrie
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The Apple Tree Creek War Memorial is a special place listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. It is located on the Bruce Highway in Apple Tree Creek, which is part of the Bundaberg Region in Queensland, Australia. This memorial was designed and built in 1921 by Andrew Lang Petrie. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992.

Remembering Our Heroes

The Apple Tree Creek War Memorial was officially opened on March 20, 1921. It was created by Andrew Lang Petrie from Toowong, Brisbane. This stone memorial remembers 77 local men who fought in World War I, including 15 who sadly died.

Apple Tree Creek started as a farming area in the 1870s and 1880s. A sugar mill opened in 1895, which helped the local economy grow. By the time World War I began, the area had many farmers, a school, a hotel, and a store. The 77 men who joined the war from this small community was a very large number. People started wanting a memorial to honor them as early as 1917.

Before World War I, Queensland didn't have many public statues or monuments. However, Australia's involvement in World War I (1914-1918) had a huge impact. About 60,000 Australians died and 152,000 were wounded. This was from a population of only about 5 million people. Almost one in five men who went to fight died, and their bodies were not brought home. Because of this, there was a very strong desire to build memorials. These memorials became a place for communities to show their sadness and remember those who were lost.

Why War Memorials Are Important

War memorials became like special graves for soldiers who died far away. They were treated with great respect. These memorials were placed in important spots and built with special designs and symbols. They were meant to honor those who served and to help future generations remember their bravery.

The memorials also showed how Australia was growing as a nation. They honored those who made "the supreme sacrifice" for their country. Communities paid for these memorials themselves. This showed how much grief and national pride people felt. Almost every town built one. No war since has caused such a widespread response. For example, those who died in World War II are often remembered by adding their names to World War I memorials.

The Apple Tree Creek memorial was paid for by local donations. It was placed in the town's recreation park. This was a good spot because it was a community gathering place and was across from the local school.

The Memorial's Design

When it was first unveiled in 1921, the memorial had a "digger" statue on top. A "digger" statue shows an Australian soldier. Even though artists didn't always think these statues were the best art, communities loved them. They felt these statues were more personal and represented the qualities of an ideal Australian soldier. Most of these statues were made by local stone companies.

The base of the Apple Tree Creek memorial is a common design by A. L. Petrie. It was first used in 1918. Originally, a captured gun (a "war trophy") was also part of the memorial's setting, but it is no longer there.

Andrew Lang Petrie was a well-known builder and stone worker. His family had a long history in Queensland's building industry. He opened his own monumental masonry business in 1903 at Toowong Cemetery. Many Queensland memorials were made by his company.

In the mid-1970s, the memorial was damaged. The pieces of the original statue were removed and stored. A concrete obelisk (a tall, thin monument) was put in its place. Then, a new "digger" statue was unveiled on August 18, 1999.

The Band Rotunda

Near the memorial, there is also a band rotunda. This is a round, open building where bands play. It was built in 1911 for the Apple Tree Creek Citizens' Brass Band. It was used often in its early years. By 1975, it was in poor condition, but it was repaired in 1983. It is one of the few old buildings left from the early days of the settlement. It adds to the beauty of the park.

What the Memorial Looks Like

The World War I Memorial is in a landscaped area within the Apple Tree Creek sports ground. This area also has a cricket field, a rodeo ring, and the small band rotunda.

The memorial has a base (called a pedestal) with a small concrete obelisk on top. An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, tapering monument. It is surrounded by an eight-sided concrete border with a decorative cast-iron fence. This fence has thin posts with fleur-de-lis shapes (a symbol like a lily flower) at the top. The fence posts also have Latin crosses on them. In front of this area is a painted wooden fence with a cast-iron gate in the middle.

The monument is made of Helidon sandstone and sits on a granite base. The base has rough stone sides. Above this are two smooth steps. The lower step has the words "Apple Tree Creek Roll of Honour" carved into it. This lists the names of the soldiers.

On top of the steps is the main part of the pedestal. It has a square marble pillar with columns at each corner. There are marble plaques on each side with the names of the 77 local men who served in World War I. The names of the 15 men who died are on the front.

The columns have fancy tops with scrollwork and leaf designs. These support a large decorative top section (called a cornice). Above this is a small square base with carved flags. This forms the base for the small concrete obelisk.

The nearby band rotunda is made of timber and has a corrugated iron roof. It is eight-sided and stands on tall stumps. You can reach it by a staircase. A simple wooden railing connects the iron columns around the octagon.

Heritage Listing

The Apple Tree Creek War Memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows how Queensland's history has changed.

War memorials are important because they show a common way that communities across the state remembered major events. They show a time when people felt a strong sense of national pride, especially during and after World War I.

• It can help us learn more about Queensland's history.

The war memorial is important because it lists the names of people from the Apple Tree Creek area who volunteered for war. This helps us understand where individuals came from, which can be hard to find in other records.

• It shows the main features of this type of historical place.

Unveiled in 1921, the memorial at Apple Tree Creek is a good example of a monument built to remember a big historical event. It uses symbols like columns and flags to do this. It also shows what people liked in terms of design during that time.

• It is beautiful and well-designed.

It is important because of its high quality of work and design. It also looks good within the park setting.

• It is very important to the local community.

The memorial has a strong connection with the community. It reminds them of a major historical event that affected most families in the area personally.

• It is connected to the work of an important person in Queensland's history.

It is also specially connected to the monumental mason A. L. Petrie, as it is a good example of his work.