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Tambar Springs Cenotaph

Tambar Springs Cenotaph
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph, close-up of names
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph, close-up of names
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph, close-up of names
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph, close-up of names
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Tambar Springs Cenotaph, rededication plaque
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Description / Background

The Tambar Springs Cenotaph is a pillar of white Italian Carrara marble, inscribed on its four sides with an honour roll of those who served in the First World War. The pillar's cap is decorated with relief sculptures of a laurel wreath and flowers and its base has relief sculptures of crossed swords.

Standing on top of the pillar is a beautiful and realistic sculpture of a youthful soldier, made of the same marble. He is depicted in his infantry uniform, with his head bowed and holding a reversed rifle. The soldier may have been sculpted as a young man because the memorial's principal benefactor lost a son in the war, who was only 17 years old.

Planning for the monument was well underway by early 1918, with the names of those who had enlisted from the district being published in the Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative on 14 February. 

The memorial was completed by the end of the year and a detailed article appeared in The Scone Advocate on 6 December. The finished piece stood 13 feet and 6 inches tall and included 86 names. 

The unveiling ceremony took place on 31 January 1919, and by that stage, five more names had been added to the roll, bringing the total to 91. Mr G. A. Higgins, President of the Liverpool Plains Repatriation Committee, had the honour of performing the unveiling. The Mudgee Guardian, 13 February 1919, reported he stood in for the Hon. W. G. Ashford, M.L.A., who was unavailable due to illness. 

The memorial was created by Mr Aslin, a monumental mason from Scone. It was erected at a cost of £400. This included £100 for the purchase of land, fencing, and the original gates and £300 for the erection of the monument, kerbing, railing, and lettering.

The memorial remains an important local landmark and was rededicated on 11 November 2003. It is located in a small park on Tambar Street, near the corner of Merrigula Street, where commemorative services are held. Also on site are the Tambar Springs War Memorial Gates

Inscription

Front

Tambar Springs

Roll of Honour

[Names]

Side

War Declared

4th Aug 1914

[Names]

Side

Peace Signed

28th June 1919

[Names]

Side

[Names]

Plaque

1914 1918

The Tambar Springs Cenotaph is claimed to be the oldest in Australia, for service men from WWI.  

It has been restored by the efforts of dedicated local people, and will be rededicated on Remembrance Day November the 11th 2003

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 P E Anshaw World War 1 view
C V Attwood World War 1 view
M Balkin World War 1 view
Pte R Bennett World War 1 view
Tpr J A Bennett World War 1 view
Tpr T Best World War 1 view
Sgt W J Best World War 1 view
Pte J Bolton World War 1 view
Dvr F J Brown World War 1 view
Pte L J Buckley World War 1 view

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Address
Tambar Street
Tambar Springs NSW 2381
Local Government Area
Gunnedah Shire
Setting
Garden/park
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Column/pillar
Recorded by
Graham Wilson. Tambar Springs Primary School.
Year of construction
1919
Dedication date
31 January 1919
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Materials
Marble