Westbrook War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westbrook War Memorial |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | 114 Toowoomba Road, Westbrook, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1922–1922 |
| Architect | Bruce Brothers |
| Architectural style(s) | Eclectic |
| Official name: Westbrook War Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600637 |
| Significant period | 1922- (social) 1922 (historical, fabric) |
| Significant components | memorial – soldier statue, hall – public |
| Builders | Bruce Brothers |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Westbrook War Memorial is a special monument in Westbrook, Australia. It is found at 114 Toowoomba Road. This memorial was built in 1922 by a company called Bruce Brothers from Toowoomba. It stands next to the Westbrook Public Hall.
The memorial is about 4.2 meters (13.8 feet) tall. It has a statue of a soldier, often called a "digger," standing on a stone base. The front of the memorial lists the names of 10 local men who died in World War I. The sides show the names of 37 other local men who served in the war. This important site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Why Was it Built?
The Westbrook War Memorial was officially opened on Anzac Day in 1922. A local politician, the Hon Littleton Groom, did the unveiling. The people of the Westbrook area paid for and built this memorial. It was designed and made by Bruce Brothers, a company known for its stone work.
The memorial honors 47 local men who fought in the First World War. This includes the 10 men who sadly lost their lives. Many families in Westbrook had more than one person serving. Some families even had four members in the war. This shows how much the war affected this small community.
War Memorials: Why They Matter
Before World War I, Australia did not have many public monuments. But after the war, many memorials were built. These became Australia's first national monuments. They showed how much the war had changed the young country. Australia lost about 60,000 soldiers from a population of only 4 million people. This means about one in five of those who served did not come home. No other war has had such a big impact on Australia.
Even before the war ended, people started building memorials. They were a way to show the country's sadness. For those who built them, these memorials were like sacred graves. They were a place to remember Australian soldiers whose bodies were buried in battlefields far away. The word "cenotaph," often used for war memorials, means "empty tomb."
Australian war memorials are special because they remember everyone who served, not just those who died. Australians were proud that their army was made up entirely of volunteers. These men were seen as heroes, whether they died or came home. Many memorials list the names of all who served from a town. This helps us understand how much the community was involved in the war.
The "Digger" Statue
In Queensland, the statue of a "digger" (an Australian soldier) was a very popular choice for memorials. This was different from other states, where tall, pointed monuments called obelisks were more common. The digger statue showed the ANZAC spirit. It represented what people thought of as the ideal Australian soldier: loyal, brave, young, innocent, and strong.
Most of these digger statues were made by local stone companies. The Westbrook memorial's statue was likely made by Batstone's of Brisbane. The stone base, or pedestal, was a common design. Bruce Brothers used the same design for memorials in Dulacca and Amosfield. When the Westbrook memorial was first built, it stood in front of open fields. Now, a hall has been built around it.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The First World War Memorial is right next to the Westbrook Public Hall. It is in a paved area and faces the main road between Toowoomba and Milleran.
The memorial stands about 4.2 meters (13.8 feet) tall. It has a pedestal (a base) with a digger statue on top.
The memorial sits on a rough, stepped stone base. This base has a special message carved into it. Above this is the smooth, white stone pedestal. It has the names of the ten local men who died in World War I carved and darkened on the front. The names of the 37 men who served are on the sides.
Above the pedestal is a stone top part, called a capital. It has a rough, vertical surface with carved edges. This part ends in a curved, rough stone shape called a cornice.
On top of the capital is a large, smooth, round stone shape called a torus moulding. It is square at the bottom. The digger statue stands on a stepped base on top of this.
The life-sized digger statue stands straight. His hands rest on top of his rifle, which is upside down and rests on his left boot. A tree stump is behind his right leg to help support the statue.
Why it's a Heritage Site
The Westbrook War Memorial was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is important for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
War memorials like this one show how Queensland's history has changed over time. They are found in most communities across the state. They prove how much Australian patriotism (love for country) and nationalism (pride in being Australian) grew, especially during and after World War I.
Showing Key Features of Monuments
These monuments are a unique record of history. They also show what people liked in terms of design between the two World Wars. The Westbrook memorial was unveiled in 1922. It shows the main features of a monument built to remember a big historical event. It uses the right materials and design. As a digger statue, it is a very popular type of memorial in Queensland. It is also beautiful because of its high-quality work and design.
Its Beauty and Design
The digger statue is the most popular type of memorial in Queensland. It is important for its beauty and the high quality of its design and construction.
Its Connection to the Community
The memorial has a strong connection to the Westbrook community. It shows how much a major historical event like World War I affected them. It also shows the work of the Bruce Brothers, a stone company from Toowoomba.
