Toowong Memorial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toowong Memorial Park |
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Entrance to Toowong Memorial Park through the memorial gates, 2013
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| Location | 65 Sylvan Road, Toowong, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Built | c. 1922 |
| Architect | George Rae |
| Official name: Toowong Memorial Park | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 4 September 2007 |
| Reference no. | 602459 |
| Significant period | 1910s 1920s |
| Builders | Andrew Lang Petrie Monumental Works |
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Toowong Memorial Park is a special place in Toowong, Queensland, Australia. It is both a park and a memorial, meaning it helps us remember important events and people. The park is located at 65 Sylvan Road. It was designed by George Rae and built around 1922. The construction was done by Andrew Lang Petrie Monumental Works. This park is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 September 2007.
Park History
Toowong Park was first set aside as a park in 1918. This was done by the Toowong Town Council. It is bordered by the Ipswich-Brisbane Railway line, Sylvan Road, and Dixon Street. In 1922, a special memorial was added to the park. After this, it became known as Toowong Memorial Park.
Since then, the park has been a very important place for the community. It hosts Anzac Day ceremonies. People also use it for sports and other fun activities.
Toowong's Growth
The Toowong area was first surveyed in 1850. Back then, it was known as West Milton. It quickly became a popular suburb for wealthy families. They built large homes on big pieces of land. This was because it was close to the city centre.
In 1875, a railway line opened, connecting Brisbane to Indooroopilly. This led to fast growth in Toowong. Many shops and houses were built for the growing number of people. In 1880, Toowong got its first local government. It was called the Toowong Divisional Board. Later that year, it became the Shire of Toowong.
By the late 1800s, much of the land was divided into smaller blocks. Toowong continued to grow. In 1903, it was officially declared the Town of Toowong. The tram lines were also extended to the Toowong Cemetery that same year. The Toowong Town Council worked hard to get land for parks.
Park Establishment
Even with all the new buildings, a map from 1895 shows that the land for the park remained large. On 7 September 1918, the Toowong Town Council officially made it a park. They called it Toowong Park. In 1925, Toowong became part of Greater Brisbane. The Brisbane City Council then took over managing the park.
Remembering World War I
World War I had a huge impact on Australia. Many soldiers were killed or injured. Out of about five million people, 60,000 soldiers died. Another 152,000 were wounded. Because the fallen soldiers were buried overseas, people in Australia wanted to remember them. Many memorials were built across the country.
The people of Toowong also wanted to honor their soldiers. They renamed Toowong Park to Toowong Memorial Park. They also added several memorial features.
Memorial Gates and Palms
The park's memorial gates were built for two reasons. First, they marked the official opening of the park in 1918. Second, they honored local people who joined the army in World War I. The gates were originally in a different spot. In 1959, they were moved to their current location. In September 1918, a special avenue of palm trees was also planted in the park.
The Soldiers' Memorial
In 1919, a competition was held to design a memorial for the park. A young Scottish designer named George Rae won. He worked for a famous architect named Lange Powell. The memorial was built by Andrew Lang Petrie Monumental Works. This company was the biggest stone masonry firm in Queensland. They also built many other World War I memorials. The memorial cost £700, which was raised by the public.
The new memorial was called the Toowong Soldiers' Memorial. It was placed on a high hill in the park. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan, officially opened it on 2 July 1922. After the memorial opened, the park became known as Toowong Memorial Park. The names of 101 Toowong residents who served in World War I are carved on marble tablets on the memorial.
In 1993, the Toowong RSL added another memorial. It is a stone cairn located near the memorial gates. This new spot is now used for Anzac Day ceremonies. Part of the original palm avenue was also moved in 1993. This allowed for a second rugby oval to be built. The palm avenue still leads from the park's main entrance to the RSL memorial. On Anzac Day, people march along this avenue for the Dawn Service.
Community Activities
Toowong Memorial Park has always been a place for community fun. It is used for sports and other activities. In its early days, Sunday School picnics were held there. Methodist churches also held children's sports competitions. In 1919, the Toowong Council celebrated the signing of the peace treaty at Versailles. They held a picnic for local children in the park.
More recently, the park has been home to local Girl Guide and Scout groups. Their old buildings are still in the park.
Sporting Clubs
One of the first sports clubs linked to the park was the Auchenflower Bowls Club. It started in 1920. The club was sold in 2003 and the land was used for houses.
The Western Districts Rugby Football Club is still active at the park. It started in 1960 as the Toowong Rugby Club. The Wests Junior Rugby Union Club began in 1966. A clubhouse opened in 1968. In 1994, the first women's team was formed. The Toowong Cricket Club also used the grounds until 1999. They started in 1948. The Toowong Harriers, an old athletic club, also used the park in the 1970s.
The park also has the Vince Hickey Basketball Stadium. There is also a public half-court nearby. The stadium hosted the 1994 World Masters Games. It has also been a venue for Australian Basketball Championships. It is still used for Brisbane Basketball League games today.
Toowong Memorial Park is very popular with the public. People use it for sports and fun. The Toowong Returned Services League also holds remembrance ceremonies there all year.
Park Description
Toowong Memorial Park is surrounded by different areas. The Ipswich-Brisbane Railway line is to the west. Sylvan Road is to the south. Dixon Street is to the north. Park Lane also runs along a small part of the north-west side. Houses line the rest of the park.
The park has a noticeable stony ridge that runs from east to west. In the south and south-west, this ridge slopes down to a large flat area near Sylvan Road. In the north, it slopes towards Dixon Street. The Dixon Street slope has some old hoop pine trees.
Buildings and Facilities
The old Auchenflower Girl Guide Hut is on the north-west side, near Park Lane. It is a timber hall with a gabled roof. The old Toowong Scout Hall is in the south-eastern corner of the park. It is a rectangular building made of concrete blocks with a hip-roof.
The main oval is in the south-west corner of the park. Around the north side of this oval are many buildings belonging to the Western Districts Rugby Football Club. A playground and public toilets are located between the main oval and the far western part of the park.
A car park is in the middle of the Sylvan Road side. It is marked by a row of large fig trees and smaller trees. Big fig trees also surround the main oval. Another football field is next to it, to the east. A small group of palm trees, from the original avenue, runs along the north-eastern side of the main oval. A large part of the original palm avenue was moved in 1993. It now runs parallel to Sylvan Road from the car park. Then it gently curves towards the memorial gates.
Memorial Features
The memorial gates are made of red brick piers. They have stone tops painted cream. They support a set of fancy wrought iron gates. The west pier has a marble plaque. It lists the names of those from Toowong who served in World War I. The east pier has a marble plaque listing the town council members from 1918.
The RSL memorial cairn is in the south-west corner of the park. It is just inside the memorial gates. It is a rough blue stone boulder monument. It sits on a flat marble slab. A low blue stone wall surrounds it, open to the north and south. A plaque on the cairn says it was put there by the Toowong Sub Branch of the Returned Services League.
The Toowong Soldiers' Memorial is on top of the ridge. Palm trees surround it. It is made of Helidon freestone. It stands 12 metres (about 39 feet) tall. It has a 5.75-metre (about 19-foot) square base. It features a marble drinking fountain with carved wreaths. The top of the structure has a carved cap and ball. Three sides of the monument have marble slabs with names carved in lead letters. Twelve stone pillars surround the monument with metal chains between them. A marble plaque on one of the pillars lists those who helped build the monument.
The Vince Hickey Basketball Stadium is near the Dixon Street boundary. It is not considered a heritage-listed part of the park.
Heritage Importance
Toowong Memorial Park was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2007. This means it is a very important place for Queensland's history and culture.
Historical Significance
War memorials like this park show how Queensland's history has changed. They represent a time when many communities across the state built memorials. This happened especially during and after World War I. It shows how much people felt proud of their country.
The memorial gates, the Soldiers' Memorial, and the tree avenues were built between 1918 and 1922. They are key parts of the park. They show how people remembered and grieved after the war. The Toowong Town Council, like many other communities, built this memorial. It honored local people who took part in the war.
Toowong Memorial Park also shows how important sports and fun activities are in Queensland's history. This is seen in the sports ovals and the Girl Guide and Scout Huts.
Unique Features
The memorial gates at Toowong Memorial Park are a special type of memorial. They are not very common in Queensland. This makes them quite unique.
Design and Characteristics
Toowong Memorial Park has been a public park since 1918. It became a memorial park in 1922. It is a great example of how parks were designed in the early 1900s. It shows how they were used for both fun and remembering. The park has sports ovals, clubhouses, and the Girl Guide and Scout huts. It also has the memorial gates, the Soldiers' Memorial, and avenues of palm and pine trees. All these parts show the park's purpose.
The memorial gates and the Soldiers' Memorial are good examples of memorial structures. They record the local impact of a major historical event. The Soldiers' Memorial is also a fine example of early work by George Rae. He was only 21 years old when he designed it. It also shows the great skill of the Brisbane stone masonry company, A L Petrie and Son.
Aesthetic Value
Toowong Memorial Park is beautiful to look at. It offers a pleasant view of open, green space. This is especially nice in the busy Toowong area. The different parts of the park also add to its beauty. The memorial gates create a grand entrance. They show high quality design and craftsmanship. The Soldiers' Memorial is on a high spot. Its detailed work makes the park even more beautiful. The many trees, including large figs and palms, mixed with open sports areas, create lovely views within the park.
Community Connection
Toowong Memorial Park is an important landmark for the community. People in Toowong have used it for social gatherings, fun, and remembrance for almost 90 years. The park, memorial gates, and Soldiers' Memorial were requested by the Toowong Town Council. They are important for remembering the local people who served and died in World War I. They show the big impact of this historical event. The palm avenues also help us remember. The park has a long history of use by sports groups, Girl Guide, and Scout groups. It has a strong, ongoing connection with the local community. It also adds to the beauty of the Toowong area.
