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Boer War Memorial, Parramatta Park

Boer War Memorial, Parramatta Park
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Description / Background

The Boer War Memorial is located in a prominent position in Parramatta Park and serves as a landmark both inside and outside the park boundaries. The structure is a comparatively rare memorial to the Boer War, which was the first overseas engagement of troops representing a federated Australia.

The component parts of the memorial are themselves significant: the four fluted sandstone Doric columns, entablature blocks and cornice are all from Mortimer Lewis's Parramatta Court House (built 1837; reused 1891). A symbolic broken column is inside the columns. The sandstone base steps down to a sandstone paved surround with a wrought iron fence made by T. Forsyth. The base has white marble infills with the names of the dead. The gun on top of the memorial is believed to be one of the six nine-pounder field guns purchased by NSW in 1856 for the defence of Port Jackson; the two cast iron guns located either side of the memorial are also believed to have been purchased at this time.

The foundation stone for the memorial was laid on 14 November 1903 and the memorial was unveiled on 23 April 1904. A subscription was raised when the troops left for South Africa to fulfil a promise to provide a worthy memorial. At the time there was a considerable anti-British, pro-Boer element in Australia and even the Government intially opposed participation by Australia in the South African war. The memorial stands as a reminder of the widely different attitudes present around the time of Federation.

The Boer War Memorial is included on the Section 170 Heritage Register of Parramatta Park Trust and is within the curtilage of the UNESCO World Heritage Listing for Old Government House and Domain, the Australian Government World and National Heritage Listings for Old Government House Domain, the NSW Government State Heritage Register and the City of Parramatta's schedule of local heritage items for Parramatta Park.

Inscription

Top of monument

Parramatta and District Soldiers Memorial

Broken column, pedestal sides

[Names]

Broken column, pedestal base

Unveiled 23rd April 1904

by Brigadier-Colonel Burns

[illeg.]

The Seat of War

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
Cpl E A Smith South African Campaign view
Trooper Leslie D Tunks Boer War, South African Campaign 879 CMF NSW Lancers view
Trooper Leslie D Tunks Boer War, South African Campaign 879 CMF NSW Lancers view
Corp J W Watts South African Campaign view
Priv D J Willis South African Campaign view

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Address
Parramatta Park
Park Parade
Parramatta NSW 2150
Local Government Area
Parramatta Council, City of
Setting
Garden/park
Memorial type
Monument
Recorded by
Parramatta Park Trust
Year of construction
1903-1904
Dedication date
23 April 1904
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902