Boer War Memorial, Gatton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boer War Memorial, Gatton |
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Gatton Boer War Memorial
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| Location | Crescent Street, Gatton, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1908 - 1908 |
| Architect | William Hodgen |
| Official name: Boer War Memorial, Fallen Soldiers Memorial, South African War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600510 |
| Significant period | 1908-(social) 1908-1970s(historical, fabric) |
| Significant components | memorial - soldier statue |
| Builders | Walter Bruce |
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The Boer War Memorial in Gatton is a special monument. It stands on Crescent Street in Gatton, Australia. This memorial was built in 1908 to remember four local men. These men sadly died during or because of the Boer War. This war took place in South Africa between 1899 and 1902.
The memorial was designed by William Hodgen. A stonemason from Toowoomba, Walter Bruce, created the pedestal. The statue was imported from Italy. The whole monument cost about £200 back then. It was officially revealed on August 3, 1908, by the Governor of Queensland, Lord Chelmsford. This memorial is one of only three known Boer War memorials in Queensland. It is also called the Fallen Soldiers Memorial or the South African War Memorial.
The memorial features a life-sized statue of a soldier, often called a "digger." This statue stands on top of a stone base. The base has marble plaques with the names and ranks of the men who died. The memorial was first placed at the intersection of Railway and Crescent Streets. It was moved to its current spot in the late 1970s. In 1984, the monument was cleaned by sandblasting. The original statue was made of Italian marble, but it was replaced at some point by the sandstone one we see today. No one knows exactly when or why this change happened. The memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992.
History of the Memorial
In April 1907, people in Gatton held a meeting. They decided to build a memorial to honour the local soldiers. They held a competition to find the best design. A talented architect from Toowoomba, William Hodgen, won the competition.
William Hodgen was born in Toowoomba in 1866. He worked for the Queensland Colonial Architect's Office in Brisbane for five years. Then he went to London. When he returned to Queensland in 1896, he started his own business in Toowoomba. He designed many buildings across Queensland. The Gatton Boer War Memorial is a unique example of his work.
The stone base, called a pedestal, was made by Walter Bruce. He was a monumental mason from Toowoomba. The soldier statue itself came all the way from Italy.
This memorial was built quite early in Queensland's history of war memorials. After World War I, many war memorials were built everywhere. But in 1908, when this one was unveiled, they were still quite rare.
Australian war memorials show how people felt about their country and the British Empire back then. They also show the skills of local stonemasons, metalworkers, and architects. In Queensland, the "digger" statue became a very popular choice for memorials. This was especially true after World War I. In other states, like those in the south, tall stone pillars called obelisks were more common.
The digger statue later became a symbol of the ANZAC Spirit. This spirit represents qualities like loyalty, courage, youth, and strength. The digger statue was very popular in Queensland. This might be because other states had groups of artists and architects who advised on memorial designs. These experts didn't always like the digger statue.
Most of these statues were made by local stone companies. However, some were created by artists or brought in from other countries.
There are only three known Boer War memorials in Queensland that feature a digger statue. Only two of these were built soon after the war ended. These are the memorial in Allora, built in 1904, and the Gatton Memorial from 1908. The third Boer War memorial, in Brisbane, was not unveiled until 1919.
The Gatton memorial was first located where Railway and Crescent Streets meet. It was moved in the late 1970s. When it was moved, its original stepped base was lost. In 1984, the monument was cleaned by sandblasting to remove layers of old paint. The first statue was made of Italian marble and was said to look very real. It was replaced by the current sandstone statue. No one knows exactly when this happened or why the change was made.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Boer War Memorial is in a small park in Gatton. It stands right in front of the railway station. The monument is in the middle of a paved area in the park. Two large fig trees stand on either side of it.
The paved area has a short path at the front. This path then splits into curved paths around the memorial. It joins up again at the back to form another short, straight path. There are new plants in garden beds on both sides of the paving.
The memorial is made of sandstone from Helidon. It has a stone base, called a pedestal, with the digger statue on top.
The base of the memorial is made of sandstone blocks. Above this, there are curved stone shapes and a smooth step. This step is topped with more curved stone designs.
The main part of the pedestal has a square section with columns at each corner. On the front and back, there are marble plaques. These plaques list the names and ranks of the four local men who died in the Boer War. One of the men was a bugler. Above the plaque on the front, there is a carved bugle. On the back, above the plaque, you can see the symbol of the Australian Light Horse.
The columns have fancy tops and bases, called Corinthian style. They support a large decorative band, known as a frieze, and a top edge, called a cornice. The cornice has a large curved surface with a simple, deeply carved pattern.
On top of the pedestal stands the life-sized digger statue. The soldier stands on a square base, called a plinth. This plinth is decorated with carved wreaths and festoons. The soldier's head is bowed, and his hands rest on his rifle, which is held upside down. There is a tree stump behind the statue to help support it.
Why This Memorial is Important
The Boer War Memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
War memorials like this one are important because they show a common part of Queensland's history. They remind us of a time when people felt very proud of Australia and the British Empire. This was especially true during and after World War I. This memorial was built very early on, in 1908. At that time, war memorials were still quite rare.
- It is a rare part of Queensland's heritage.
This memorial is one of only two digger statues built to remember Queensland soldiers who died in the Boer War (1899-1902). A third Boer War memorial in Brisbane was built much later.
- It shows what these types of memorials are like.
These monuments are a special record of history. They also show what people liked in terms of art and design back then. The Gatton Boer War Memorial is a great example of a monument built to remember a big historical event. It uses the right materials and design to do this.
- It is beautiful and well-designed.
The memorial is important because it looks good and is a landmark in the street. It also shows high-quality craftsmanship and design.
- It is important to the community.
This memorial has a strong connection with the local community. It shows how a big historical event affected them. It also connects to the work of William Hodgen, the Toowoomba architect, as a unique example of his designs.
