Greenmount War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greenmount War Memorial |
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Greenmount War Memorial
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| Location | Ramsay Street, Greenmount, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | circa 1921 |
| Official name: Greenmount War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600390 |
| Significant period | 1921(social) 1921–1986(historical, fabric) |
| Significant components | views from, memorial – soldier statue, trees/plantings, garden – bed/s, park / green space, flagpole/flagstaff, memorial surrounds/railings |
| Builders | William Parkin Prout |
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The Greenmount War Memorial is a special monument located on Ramsay Street in Greenmount, Australia. It was built to remember the soldiers from the area who served in wars. This memorial was officially revealed on December 11, 1922. It is now protected as a heritage site on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical place.
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History of the Memorial
The Greenmount War Memorial was put up in 1922. It was first placed near the railway station on Pilton Street. This street was the main road between the towns of Toowoomba and Warwick. The person who built the stone monument was William Parkin Prout from Warwick. He also made similar monuments in Allora and Killarney.
How Greenmount Grew
Greenmount was one of many small towns that grew as farming areas. This happened when large farming estates, like Eton Vale, were divided up by the government. More people could then settle and farm the land from the late 1860s to the 1880s. Greenmount became a town around its railway station and local store. It grew quite a lot in the early 1900s.
Building the Memorial
In 1915, the new Cambooya Shire Council decided to create an Honour Roll. This roll would list the names of soldiers from the area. However, it wasn't until January 1921 that the Council decided to use the money they had collected to build a memorial for the whole Shire in Greenmount. The war memorial was officially revealed on Monday, December 11, 1922. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan, did the honors.
In August 1952, the Council took over looking after the monument. Before that, the Greenmount Progress Association had been in charge. Around this time, the Council also gave money to add the names of soldiers from the Second World War to the monument.
Moving the Memorial
In 1985, the Greenmount Bicentennial Memorial Park was created. This new park was on Ramsay Street, next to the Returned Soldiers Hall. The monument was moved to this new park. It is thought to be the only complete "Digger" monument made by William Parkin Prout in Queensland. The park was officially opened in February 1986.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Greenmount War Memorial was built around 1921. It features a "Digger" statue in the middle of a memorial park. This park was created around 1985 and gently slopes towards the west.
The Statue and Its Base
The monument has a life-sized statue of a soldier, made from grey sandstone. This statue stands on top of a tall, beautifully carved sandstone base. The base is about twice as tall as the statue itself. The monument is surrounded by garden beds, shrubs, and small palm trees. It looks very impressive with the valley and hills in the background. A tall steel flagpole stands to the west of the monument.
The monument sits on a concrete platform. Small sandstone posts and a steel rail surround this platform. The base of the monument has steps made of sandstone. On the north side, there's a sloping part with a marble plaque that has leaded letters. The mason's name is carved here. The lower part of the base has marble plaques with names of honor on each side. It also has a decorative top edge called a cornice. The upper part has curved panels with small marble "in memoriam" plaques. Above this is a white sandstone block that gets narrower towards the top. It has carvings of wreaths and crossed guns. This section is topped with a small pediment and steps, where the soldier statue stands. The grey sandstone Digger statue faces the road. The soldier stands with his right foot forward, holding the top of his rifle barrel in his right hand.
The Park Setting
The monument, with its park setting and the view of hills and valleys behind it, makes Greenmount look very beautiful. It is in excellent condition.
Why This Memorial is Important
The Greenmount War Memorial is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important rules. It was added to the list on October 21, 1992.
A Piece of History
This memorial helps us understand how Queensland's history has changed. It shows how much people felt proud of their country and their soldiers during and after World War I. Many memorials like this were built during that time.
A Special Design
As a "digger" statue, this memorial shows the main features of monuments built to remember big historical events. It is a lasting reminder of the past. The fine carving of the sandstone is very artistic and valued by the community. Its setting in the park, with the hills and valley in the background, adds a lot to the beauty of Greenmount.
Important to the Community
This place is very important to the local community. It shows how a major historical event, like World War I, had a big impact on the people living there.
