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Nowra Soldiers Memorial

Nowra Soldiers Memorial
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Description / Background

The memorial is an unusual inter-war period castellated gateway, slightly assymetrical in design. It is constructed of rock faced ashlar sandstone, with battlemented parapets and crenellated towers. There is a central arch plaqued in dressed sandstone, and four arched gateways with wrought iron gates, two each side of the central arch, for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Originally built to honour those who served in the First World War, a memorial sculpture has since been added to honour those who served in the Second World War and subsequent conflicts. The sculpture depicts an Australian serviceman standing free on his island home in a memorial fountain, with his rifle and helmet discarded, his country's freedom secured, but forever on the alert to safeguard the future. The approach along Junction Street connects the memorial to the town centre and accentuates the dramatic setting for the sculpture.

The memorial is located at the entrance of the Nowra Showground. The gates were dedicated in 1931 and the architect was Cyril Blacket. The sculpture was dedicated in 1968 and the sculptor was O.L. Steen.

Inscription

Gates - centre section

Soldiers Memorial

1914 Honor Roll 1918

[Names]

Sculpture plaque

To those who served

"Forget them not, the valiant souls who fought and proudly dies; now, nameless in distant graves they lie, with naught but pride in knowing that their precious land continued to be free. We cannot give, but can keep alive their memory."

Conflict plaques

South Africa (Boer) 1899 - 1902

First World War 1914 - 1918

Second World War 1939 - 1945

"Lest we forget"

Korean War 1950 - 1953

Malayan Emergency 1952 - 1960

Vietnam War

For all those who served, suffered and died

1962 - 1973

Indonesian Confrontation 1963 - 1966

Gulf War 1990 - 1991

Related links
MEMORIAL GATES AT NOWRA. (5 Jan 1931)

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Sidebar
Address
Nowra Showground
Intersection of West and Junction Streets
Nowra NSW 2541
Local Government Area
Shoalhaven, City of
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Gate/lychgate
Statue/sculpture/artwork
Recorded by
Mr J. A. Smith (Hon Sec), Nowra-Greenwell Point RSL Sub-Branch
Year of construction
1931
Dedication date
22 January 1931
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
Iraq: the First Gulf War, 1990–91