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The Junction Soldiers' Monument

The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument, the soldier statue remade in Italy
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The Junction Soldiers' Monument
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Description / Background

The Junction Soldiers' Monument consists of a white marble soldier, standing atop a sandstone pillar. The pillar features white marble columns and inlays. It is set on a platform, six steps above street level. 

The monument originally sat in the middle of a triangle section of land bounded by Kenrick Street, Glebe Road, and Corlette Street. Corlette Street between Kenrick Street and Glebe Road has since been closed.

In 1989, the suburb of The Junction was damaged by the Newcastle earthquake and the memorial was significantly damaged. The Newcastle City Council Collections has created a database of images relating to the damage.

After it was ruined, John Gallespie began investigating who sculpted the soldier. He knew it was done in Italy but had no further information. Jill Bennett, Local Studies Library Technician at the Newcastle City Library, tracked down the sculptors in Italy.

In 1991, Mario Pedrini of Pedrini Mario & Co. Sculptors made the replacement soldier. He based the soldier on photos provided by R F Gaites Monumental Stone Masons and material from Newcastle Library regarding the 303 rifle and clothing details.

Additional information about this memorial is available from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage website.

Inscription

South east face - facing direction of the soldier statue

The Junction Soldiers' Monument

Erected by the residents of The Junction in honor of the boys who enlisted from this part of the District, and in glorious memory of those who gave up their lives in the Great European War. 1914–1919.

North east face - Kenrick Street

1914–1919 For King and Country in memory of the boys who died in liberty's cause.

[KIA names]

North west face

[Names enlisted 1916–1918]

South west face

1914–1919 For King and Country

[Names enlisted1914–1916]

Southern corner

W. L. Porter Hon. Architect. R. G. Kilgour Mayor 1918

Eastern corner

Maisy & Tonks Sculptors. This stone was laid by R. Gibson Mayor 1919

Northern corner

H. A. Quinlan President

Western corner

W. J. Lyne Hon. Sec.

Plaque in proximity

This plaque is dedicated to RAAF Pilot Officer Warren William Goddard who lost his life when the Sabre Jet fighter he piloted crashed at The Junction, 6pm, 16 August 1966.

Pilot Officer Goddard, age 20, man[o]uvered the Jet away from homes to prevent further loss of life. 

This plaque was dedicated by The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, John S Tate, Flt. Lt. Sydney Goddard (ret), on Thursday 16 August 2007

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
PTE C Woolston World War 1 view
TRP H Wyard World War 1 view
TRP J Young World War 1 view

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Address
Cnr Kenrick Street, Glebe Road and Corlette Street
The Junction NSW 2291
Local Government Area
Newcastle, City of
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Column/pillar
Recorded by
Robert McLardy. Jill Bennett. John Gillespie.
Year of construction
1918
Dedication date
08 September 1919
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Materials
Marble
Sandstone