Fremantle War Memorial

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Coordinates: 32°03′08″S 115°45′26″E / 32.05229°S 115.757237°E / -32.05229; 115.757237
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Fremantle War Memorial
operated by the City of Fremantle
For Fremantle servicemen and servicewomen
UnveiledArmistice Day (11 November), 1928
Location32°03′08″S 115°45′26″E / 32.05229°S 115.757237°E / -32.05229; 115.757237
near 
Fremantle, Western Australia
Designed byJ. F. Allen and C. H. Nicholas; constructed by Pietro Porcelli
TypeState Registered Place
Designated28 August 2001
Reference no.3956

The Fremantle War Memorial is a

First World War
, having been used as a public reserve since the early 19th century.

Location

The War Memorial is located on Monument Hill in the

CBC, and John Curtin College of the Arts are less than 500 metres (550 yd) away to the south-west, north-west, and north, respectively. Four roads – Bateman Street, High Street, Knutsford Street, and Swanbourne Street – border the reserve, and Solomon Street runs through the centre, allowing vehicular access.[3]

Under the name "Monument Hill Memorial Reserve", the land comprising the memorial has been designated a Class-A reserve under the Land Administration Act 1997, which means that the purpose of the reserve cannot be changed except with the consent of both

Register of Historic Places on 28 August 2001,[5] with the Register Listing noting: "the complete panorama (and the view of Fremantle and Gage Roads in particular) afforded from the place, its urban parkland containing mature trees and open spaces, and the open character and almost constant breeze at its summit (particularly in the warmer months) are all aesthetic characteristics of the place that continue to attract visitors and locals alike and contribute to the community's sense of place".[6]

History

Frank Gibson (left) and William Watson headed the Fremantle War Memorial Committee in 1923.
The Sunday Times
in February 1925.
An aerial photograph of the memorial taken by Frank Hurley in the 1930s.

Prior uses

An

jarrah seats.[9]

Fallen Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial

The

Perth.[11] A separate citizens' committee was formed in February 1922, and reviewed plans by Messrs. Crossland and Harvey for the grounds.[12] Fundraising for the monument began in earnest on Anzac Day (25 April), 1922, with the organisation of a flower show, button days, and the selling of local produce.[13] Approximately £1,600 had been raised by October 1922.[14] The main committee also referred a proposal for an improved roadway to the hill to the works committee, pointing out the road was necessary for "the carting of material to be used in the construction of the memorial".[15]

Further fundraising continued throughout the following year, with the memorial committee, now headed by Gibson and

tenders be called for the construction of the monument, after a discussion in which the idea was raised that only a portion of the contract be proceeded with, with the object of "shaming people into contributing towards the fund of having the memorial completed".[17] A further special meeting was held in April 1924, again presided over by Gibson. J. W. Bateman, who had previously resigned from the committee in protest at the poor response of shipping and commercial interests, was present at the meeting by invitation. The decision was made to proceed with the erection of the memorial "as far as the funds collected would permit", despite the "apathy of the citizens in the matter of subscriptions". The committee also moved to approach the architects Allen and Nicholas, who had gratuitously undertaken the role of supervisors in the construction of the monument, to secure estimates for the cost of the memorial.[18] Three estimates were received in September 1924, with the highest for £11,700, and the lowest for £6,450. One of the architects, Mr. Allen, altered some of the specifications of the monument in order to save money, substituting concrete for steel for certain work, and removing a spiral staircase and stone seats at the base of the hill.[19]

An article, accompanied by a sketch of the proposed memorial (pictured left) in

The Sunday Times in February 1925, noted the height of the monument would be 85 feet (26 m) "from top to bottom", comprising a 60-foot tower, and an 18-foot base, giving a total height above sea level of 244 feet (74 m). The noted Italian-born sculptor Pietro Porcelli was placed in charge of the construction, having previously designed the Explorers' Monument and a statue of C. Y. O'Connor in Fremantle.[20]

Unveiling

The 11 November 1928 unveiling ceremony

The memorial was completed and inaugurated in 1928. An initial ceremony was held on Anzac Day (25 April) 1928 to dedicate a memorial tablet on the main column prior to the completion of the memorial. This ceremony was carried out by Archbishop Riley. The main unveiling, after construction had finished, took place later that year on Armistice Day (11 November). The unveiling was carried out by the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia, Sir Robert McMillan, with the memorial dedicated by Canon Collick.[21]

Further memorials

Plans for the erection of memorial gates commemorating those who fought in the

Second World War were proposed in 1948, with work commencing in 1952. The gates comprised two grey granite entrance pillars, with cast bronze panels and ornamental work. The original deadline for the work was Anzac Day, 1952, however, only the bronze plaques were unveiled, with the memorial entrances not opened until Anzac Day, 1963. A 21-inch-diameter mounted torpedo dedicated to the memory of United States Navy submariners who died at sea during the Second World War was unveiled by Rear Admiral Herman J. Kossler on 8 September 1967, jointly financed by the City of Fremantle and the United States Submarine Veterans Association. A memorial dedicated to members of the Allied submarine crews based in Fremantle during the Second World War was unveiled by Sir Douglas Kendrew, the Governor of Western Australia, on Trafalgar Day (21 October), 1972, incorporating a periscope from HM Submarine Tabard.[9]

A photograph of the memorial, taken prior to Anzac Day in 2006.

A plaque commemorating those killed in

Australian Merchant Navy and the Royal Marines.[9]

List

Memorial Dedicated Image Reference
Merchant Mariners Memorial 27 August 1995 [22]
Netherlands Ex-Servicemen`s Association of Australia Monument 1991 [23]
Submarine Periscope Memorial 21 October 1972 [24]
Royal Australian Navy Corvettes 7 October 1984 [25]
Royal Australian Navy in Vietnam 30 November 2002 [26]
Royal Marines Memorial 3 November 1998 [27]
Royal Navy Memorial 23 October 1994 [28]
United States Submariners Memorial 16 September 1967 [29]

Uses

Commemorative services are held yearly on

which?
] are exactly aligned.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fremantle War Memorial.
  1. ^ Fremantle War Memorial, Western Australia – World War 1 Cemeteries. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  2. ^ Monument Hill (WA) – Easy Weddings. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  3. ISBN 1-921048-10-7
    .
  4. ^ Monument Hill Memorial Reserve – Fremantle Visitor Centre. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  5. ^ Monument Hill & War Memorials, Fremantle (03956) Archived 13 July 2012 at archive.today – Heritage Council of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  6. ^ Register listing for Monument Hill & War Memorials, Fremantle – Register of Historic Places. Published 28 August 2001. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  7. ^ Monument Hill, Fremantle, WA – The Gardens Family History. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  8. ^ 1870s Fremantle No.2 – Planning Western Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b c Assessment documentation for Monument Hill & War Memorials, Fremantle – Register of Historic Places. Published 28 August 2001. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  10. The Sunday Times
    . Published 11 December 1921. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  11. ^ Fremantle's effort – The West Australian. Published 24 April 1922. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  12. ^ Soldiers' Memorial for Fremantle – The Western Mail. Published 23 February 1922. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  13. ^ Fremantle Flower Show – The West Australian. Published 26 October 1922. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  14. ^ Fremantle War Memorial. – The West Australian. Published 9 October 1922. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  15. ^ Fremantle War Memorial. – The West Australian. Published 18 October 1922. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  16. ^ Fremantle War Memorial. – The West Australian. Published 24 March 1923. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  17. ^ Tenders to Be Called. – The West Australian. Published 17 November 1923. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  18. ^ Decision of the Committee. – The West Australian. Published 24 April 1924. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  19. ^ FREMANTLE COMMITTEE'S WORK – The West Australian. Published 22 September 1924. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  20. The Sunday Times
    . Published 15 February 1925. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Fremantle Fallen Sailors and Soldiers Memorial". Monument Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  22. ^ "Merchant Mariners Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Netherlands Ex-Servicemen's Association of Australia Monument". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Submarine Periscope Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Royal Australian Navy Corvettes". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Royal Australian Navy in Vietnam". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Royal Marines Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Royal Navy Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  29. ^ "United States Submariners Memorial". monumentaustralia.org.au. Monument Australia. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  30. ^ Remembrance Day in Fremantle Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today – ABC Perth Events. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  31. ^ Anzac Day 2012 commemoration – City of Fremantle. Retrieved 19 April 2012.

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