Fremantle War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fremantle War Memorial |
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| operated by the City of Fremantle | |
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| For Fremantle servicemen and servicewomen | |
| Unveiled | Armistice Day (11 November), 1928 |
| Location | 32°03′08″S 115°45′26″E / 32.05229°S 115.757237°E near Fremantle, Western Australia
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| Designed by | J. F. Allen and C. H. Nicholas; constructed by Pietro Porcelli |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 28 August 2001 |
| Reference no. | 3956 |
The Fremantle War Memorial is a special place on Monument Hill in Fremantle, Western Australia. It's a large monument that remembers the brave soldiers and sailors from Fremantle. The main part of the memorial is a tall obelisk, which is a stone pillar. Around it are eight smaller memorials.
This important site is located on High Street and looks out over Fremantle Harbour. The Fremantle Town Council built it in 1928. They wanted to honor those who were lost during the First World War. The hill itself has been a public park since the early 1800s.
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Where is the Memorial?
The Fremantle War Memorial sits on Monument Hill, which is about 43 meters (141 feet) above sea level. From the hill, you can see amazing views. To the west, you can spot Fremantle Harbour, Garden Island, and Rottnest Island. To the east, you can see the Darling Ranges. It's the highest natural point between the Indian Ocean and these ranges!
People have always known Monument Hill was a great spot for views. The area around the memorial has houses, but also important places like Fremantle Prison, CBC, and John Curtin College of the Arts are nearby. Several roads go around the reserve, and Solomon Street runs through it, so cars can get there.
The land where the memorial stands is called "Monument Hill Memorial Reserve." It's a special "Class-A reserve" under a law called the Land Administration Act 1997. This means its purpose can only be changed if both parts of the State Parliament agree. The site is also listed on the State Register of Heritage Places because of its beautiful views and open spaces. People love visiting it for the fresh air and the feeling of history.
History of the Memorial
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Early Uses of Monument Hill
Before the memorial, a stone pillar called an obelisk was built on Monument Hill in 1874. Surveyors used it as a "trig point" to help them map the land. Old maps from the 1870s called the hill "Obelisk Hill." This old pillar was taken down before the war memorial was built in the 1920s.
In the past, the hill had lots of limestone rocks and low bushes. After gold was discovered in Western Australia in the 1890s, many temporary settlements, called "canvas towns," appeared around Fremantle. Some were even on Monument Hill. In 1904, the hill became a public park called "Obelisk Reserve." Workers started quarrying limestone from the hill, which was used by local companies, including the Fremantle Tramways. Between 1904 and 1910, trees were planted, paths were made, and drinking fountains and wooden seats were added to make it a nice park.
Building the Fallen Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial
In 1921, the Fremantle Town Council created a committee to build a monument. They wanted to remember the men from Fremantle who joined the war. Their first idea was a 19.8-meter (65-foot) tall obelisk.
In April 1922, the committee, led by Mayor Frank Ernest Gibson, chose a design. They started raising money on Anzac Day (April 25), 1922. They held flower shows, sold buttons, and local produce. By October 1922, they had raised about £1,600. The committee also thought about improving the road to the hill so building materials could be brought up easily.
Fundraising continued, with Gibson and William Watson, a local member of parliament, encouraging businesses to donate. By November 1923, they decided to ask for bids to build the monument. They even thought about building only part of it first, hoping it would encourage more donations!
In April 1924, they decided to go ahead with building the memorial as much as their funds allowed, even though people weren't donating as much as hoped. Architects Allen and Nicholas, who were helping for free, gave estimates for the cost. To save money, some changes were made to the design, like using concrete instead of steel for certain parts.
In February 1925, an article with a sketch of the planned memorial was published. It said the monument would be 25.9 meters (85 feet) tall from top to bottom. The famous Italian sculptor Pietro Porcelli was put in charge of building it. He had also designed other important statues in Fremantle.
The Unveiling Ceremony
The memorial was finished and opened in 1928. A first ceremony happened on Anzac Day (April 25), 1928. During this event, a special tablet on the main column was dedicated by Archbishop Riley. The main opening ceremony, after all construction was done, took place later that year on Armistice Day (November 11). The Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia, Sir Robert McMillan, officially unveiled the memorial.
More Memorials Added
After the Second World War, plans were made in 1948 for memorial gates to honor those who fought. Work started in 1952. These gates have two grey granite pillars with bronze panels. The bronze plaques were unveiled on Anzac Day in 1952, but the gates themselves didn't open until Anzac Day, 1963.
Over the years, more memorials were added:
- In 1967, a torpedo was unveiled to remember United States Navy submariners lost at sea during World War II.
- In 1972, a memorial for Allied submarine crews based in Fremantle during World War II was unveiled. It even includes a periscope from a submarine!
- In 1975, a plaque was added for those killed in conflicts in Malaya, Korea, Borneo, and Vietnam.
- In 1984, a memorial for those who served on Australian corvettes in World War II was unveiled.
- In 1991, a plaque was added by the Netherlands Ex-Servicemen's Association, remembering Dutch services in Fremantle.
- In 1994, a ship's anchor was unveiled to honor Royal Navy personnel from World War II.
- In 1995 and 1996, memorials were dedicated to the Australian Merchant Navy and the Royal Marines.
What Happens at the Memorial?
Special services are held at the Fremantle War Memorial every year. These happen on Anzac Day (April 25) and Remembrance Day (November 11).
The main memorial is designed in a very thoughtful way. At dawn, the year 1914 lights up, and at sunset, the year 1919 lights up. These years mark the beginning and end of the First World War. This is a nod to a line from the "Ode of Remembrance": "At the going down of the sun and in the morning/We will remember them." On Anzac Day, the shadows from the memorial line up perfectly.
