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Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park

Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park
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Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park
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Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park
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Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park, close-up of plinth with dedication plaque
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Moree Anzac Centenary Memorial Park, close-up of some veteran plaques on site
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Description / Background

Arising out of discussions concerning the proposed Moree highway bypass, a community liaison group was established to liase between the community and the Roads and Maritime Services on design aspects of the bypass plans. An Environmental Impact Statement determined a park should be constructed and have a heritage theme. It was suggested to honour the Anzac Centenary. The memorial elements were proposed by Councillor John Tramby (Returned & Services League) from the Moree Plains Shire Council.

The park contains a row of Kurrajong trees along Gosport Street, plaques on plinths for individual soldiers, a perforated interpretive metal mural on a small structure, and a dedication panel. The memorial was designed by CM Architecture and is located on the former Moree Railway Institute tennis courts.

The memorial was officially opened by His Excellency the Honourable David Hurley, Governor of New South Wales, on 12 March 2016. 

Inscription

Dedication panel

Anzac Centenary Memorial

Officially opened by His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor of NSW Saturday 12 March 2016

This memorial is a place to honour and remember the sacrifice of all men and women from the Moree region who fought and died in World War I.

In February 1916, local men enlisted to fight for 'King and Country'. They left Moree by train traveling to Armidale for basic army training, forming what would become the first 33rd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Battalion. This march became known as the Kurrajong March, one of many enlistment marches in NSW at that time. The Kurrajong tree commonly found in the Moree landscape is a hardy tree, symbolic of those who volunteered in WWI. Many were never to return. The shape of the Kurrajong leaf and seed pod is the same shape as the shoulder patch of the 33rd AIF Battalion. The Battalion left Australia in May 1916 for further training in the United Kingdom, before traveling to France, joining the Western Front in November 1916. They served in major battles over the next two years including Messines, Passchendaele and Villers-Bretonneux. A row of Kurrajong trees has been planted along Gosport Street in remembrance of these men.

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
Private Edward Leslie Beattie World War 1 1036 AIF Gallipoli, turkey, Died Hospital Ship 'Rewa' view
Private Bernshaw Lomax Beaumont World War 1 3709 AIF Bullecourt, France view
Private Bernshaw Lomax Beaumont World War 1 3709 AIF Bullecourt, France view
Gunner Harold Joseph Belford World War 1 25573 AIF France view
Private Gerald Doyle Benns World War 1 2276 AIF Messines, Belgium view
Private William Bonnar World War 1 726 AIF Gallipoli, Turkey view
Sergeant Francis William C Bootle World War 1 55 AIF England view
Corporal James Joseph Bourke World War 1 1512 AIF Menin Road, Ypres, Belgium view
Private Leonard John Bowen World War 1 2275 AIF England view
Private Claude Bower World War 1 6 AIF Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium view

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Address
Cnr Anne and Gosport Streets
Moree NSW 2400
Local Government Area
Moree Plains Shire
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Garden/park
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
2014
Dedication date
12 March 2016
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18