Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial
Description
The sandstone memorial comprises an obelisk, standing on top of a centre column and plinth. The column is in the 'Sentry Box' style and was designed to accommodate the 1-metre-tall bronze sculpture of a First World War Australian Digger. The sculpture, commissioned at a cost of $21,000, is the work of Hungarian-born Alex Kolozsy. Black granite from the Grandee Granite Quarry in the Mulyandry district was used to form the Sentry Box archway, which has the inscription 'Valour/Honour' engraved on either side of the entrance. The plinth, or base, of the Sentry Box bears the unveiling plaque. The plinth received a 'Convict picked and margined' makeover from local stonemason Paul McKinley to complement the district's colonial convict heritage.
The obelisk, which was the final stage of construction of the memorial, was to undergo three design changes before completion. To obtain a single, 2.4-metre-long log of light grey stone, without grain or flaw, proved to be very difficult. This resulted in a compromise, including a change in height/concept to accommodate the join. The obelisk inscription 'Sacred to their Memory' was the work of Central Coast stonemason Jon Bye. The sides of the obelisk house four large bronze plaques, representing the three service branches and the Merchant Navy.
Following approval from Hornsby Council, the memorial committee was formed in 5 October 2010 to construct a fitting memorial in honour of the men and women who departed the district for service in times of war. The memorial was designed by Wayne Moore & Neil Marsh and completed one week before Anzac Day 2015. It is located in a community reserve, adjacent to the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club.
Inscription
Obelisk - front
Sacred to their Memory
North panel
Wisemans Ferry & District
World War 1 Nominal Roll
& Roll of Honour
[27 names]
Post W.W.2 Nominal Roll
I.S.A.F. Afghan.
[Two names]
South panel
Wisemans Ferry & District
World War 2 Nominal Roll
[55 names]
East panel
This memorial was erected
by the community of Wisemans Ferry
in memory of the men & women
who departed this district
and in honour of those
who served and sacrificed
their lives during the
South Africa (Boer War) 1899–1902
The Great War of 1914–1918
World War II 1939–1945
Malaya/Borneo 1948–1960
Korea 1950–1953
Vietnam 1962–1972
U.N. Peacekeepers
"Ode"
They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them
Lest we forget
West face
[inscribed to the left and right of statue]
Valour
Honour
West face, plaque
This memorial was unveiled on 25th April 2015
by Mrs. Dyras Thompson
to commemorate the "Centenary of Anzac"
Do you know more about this war memorial?
Address
Public Reserve
Old Northern Road
Wisemans Ferry NSW 2775
AustraliaLocal Government Area
- Hornsby Shire
Setting
- Roadside
Memorial type
- Obelisk
Recorded by
Wayne MooreYear of construction
2015Established Date format:
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}Dedication date
25 April 2015 Conflict/s
- South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
- First World War, 1914–18
- Second World War, 1939–45
- Korean War, 1950–53
- Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
- Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
- Vietnam War, 1962–75
- Peacekeeping, 1947–present
Materials
- Bronze
- Granite
- Sandstone