Toogoolawah War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toogoolawah War Memorial |
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Toogoolawah War Memorial, 2010
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| Location | Cressbrook Street, Toogoolawah, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1906 – 1988 |
| Official name: McConnell Park & Toogoolawah War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600499 |
| Significant period | 1906–(social) 1906–1988 (historical) 1906–1930 (fabric) |
| Significant components | trees/plantings, pathway/walkway, library – building, memorial – obelisk, cricket pitch, bandstand/rotunda, memorial – cairn, time capsule, park / green space, bench/seat, tennis court, flagpole/flagstaff |
| Builders | Frank Williams & Co |
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The Toogoolawah War Memorial is a special place in McConnel Park, located on Cressbrook Street in Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia. It is a memorial that is protected because of its history and importance. The park itself was built around 1906 by a company called Frank Williams & Co. It is also known as McConnel Park. This site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992, which means it is officially recognized as a significant historical place.
Contents
A Look Back: The Park's History
How the Park Started
McConnel Park began as a public park and fun place for people around 1906. The land was kindly given by James Henry McConnel, who lived at a place called Cressbrook.
The McConnel Family's Role
The McConnel family played a big part in building the town of Toogoolawah. James's father, David Cannon McConnel, was the first European to settle in the Brisbane Valley area in 1841. Later, in the late 1890s, James Henry McConnel started a condensed milk factory. He also divided a large part of his land into dairy farms and created the town of Cressbrook Creek, which is now Toogoolawah. Other towns in Queensland, like Beaudesert and Nambour, also started this way.
The McConnel family cared a lot about the people of Toogoolawah. They helped build homes for farmers, gave land for churches, and supported many local clubs and groups. Creating this park in the middle of town shows how much they wanted to help the community.
Park Features Over Time
In 1919, a brass band was formed in Toogoolawah. Around that time, a small bandstand, believed to be given by the McConnel family, was built in the park. By 1924, the park also had a tennis court and a public shower. Water for the shower came from a well and windmill on the site. A cricket pitch was added around 1930. Later, in the 1970s, a Guide hut and a Scout den were built there.
The park was officially put under the care of trustees in 1926. In 1940, the Esk Shire Council became the main group responsible for looking after it.
The War Memorial's Story
The stone memorial for the First World War was asked for by the people of Toogoolawah in 1916. It was made by Frank Williams & Co., who were stone carvers from Ipswich. They made most of the First World War memorials in the area. The memorial cost £300 and was officially revealed on 31 March 1917 by Rev Chaplain Merrington. It was only the second war memorial built in Queensland and the first one outside a cemetery.
Originally, the memorial area was separated from the rest of the park by a picket fence. Gardens were planted by 1921. On Anzac Day that year, a First World War gun was placed next to the memorial.
In 1955, a metal plate was added to the memorial. It honored 15 local people who died in the Second World War. In 1988, two more plaques were added to remember those who served in wars after 1945, like the Korean, Malayan, and Vietnam conflicts.
Also in 1988, a stone cairn with a time capsule inside was placed in the park to celebrate Australia's 200th birthday.
What You'll See: Park Description
McConnel Park is a large area, about 2.7 hectares (which is like 27,000 square meters). It faces Cressbrook Street on one side and Gunyah Street on another. Next to it are St Andrews Anglican Church and some houses.
You can enter the park from Gunyah Street. There's a paved driveway that goes around the sportsground. A line of trees runs along the drive. Near the entrance, there are square gateposts and a small library building. You'll also see two park benches with special cast iron supports that have the letters "McCP" on them.
In the southeast part of the park, you'll find the First World War memorial, a bandstand, a pioneer memorial, a barbecue area, tennis courts, and a children's playground.
The War Memorial
The First World War memorial stands in its own fenced area facing Cressbrook Street. It's made of sandstone and looks like a tall, pointed pillar (an obelisk) on a stepped base of concrete and rough sandstone. On each side of the main part of the memorial, there are marble plaques listing the names of those who served in the First World War.
The top part of the memorial has detailed carvings. On the east side of the obelisk's base, there's a wreath with the words "OUR BOYS HONOUR." Metal plaques have been added to remember those who served in conflicts like Korea, Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam.
Concrete paths with garden edges surround the memorial. These paths lead from the north and east entrances. Two tall, thin "pencil pines" stand at the east entrance, and one at the north. There's also a metal flagpole and two smaller pencil pines on the west side. A low wire fence goes around the whole memorial area.
Other Park Features
The octagonal (eight-sided) timber bandstand stands on wooden posts. It has a pointed roof made of corrugated iron with a metal decoration at the top. The bandstand has decorative wooden supports and a railing with a seat around the edge. You can go up to it using timber stairs on the north side.
The Pioneer Memorial is a low, square structure with sloped sides, covered in slate tiles. It also sits on a slate-tiled base and holds the time capsule.
To the south of the sportsground, there's a public toilet building made of concrete blocks and a Guide hut made of weatherboard. The Scout hut is in the southwest part of the park. It's a single-story building with a corrugated iron roof.
The sportsground itself has a cricket pitch and mature trees around its edges.
Why It's Important: Heritage Listing
The Toogoolawah War Memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it meets certain important standards:
- Showing Queensland's History: It helps us understand how Queensland's history unfolded, especially the growth of Toogoolawah. It also shows how people felt about Australian patriotism and nationalism during the First World War.
- A Special Kind of Place: The memorial is a great example of a structure built to remember a major historical event.
- Beautiful and Well-Made: The memorial, bandstand, and cast iron seats are beautiful and show great craftsmanship. The memorial also stands out and adds to the look of the town.
- Important to the Community: The memorial is very important to the local community. It reminds them of how major historical events affected their town.
- Connected to Important People: The Toogoolawah War Memorial has a strong connection to the McConnel family, who were very important in Queensland's history.
