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A grand entry: Burwood War Memorial Arch

A grand entry: Burwood War Memorial Arch

The Burwood War Memorial Arch marks the formal entrance to the historic Burwood Park in Sydney's Inner West. A grand sandstone structure, the arch was established in the early 1920s as a memorial to those who served in the First World War.

Simplicity of design

The memorial is a free-standing, triumphal arch, with one central archway for pedestrians. It does not contain any artworks, sculptures, or overly decorative elements, which allows the viewer's focus to be on the memorial's main inscription and honour roll tablets.

The words 'Thanks be unto God who gave us the victory' appear at the top of the front and back of the arch. This placement draws the eye upwards, giving visitors a sense of the height and scale of the structure, which is more than seven metres tall.

The memorial's eight honour roll tablets are all positioned towards the bottom of the memorial, so visitors can easily read the names inscribed. They are all made of matching pieces of granite and are spaced evenly around the pillars of the arch for symmetry and aesthetics. The roll contains the names of 937 men and four nurses who served in the war, plus the names of 149 veterans who died. All of their names have been highlighted in lustrous gold.

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Burwood War Memorial Arch. Photograph taken by the NSW War Memorials Register, February 2022.

The community remembers

The foundation stone of the arch was laid by Mayor Alderman J. H. Whipp on 11 November 1922. During the service Mayor Whipp said:

Burwood had never been lacking in patriotism during the war. In the centuries to come the arch would be a reminder to the people of the sacrifices made by their ancestors in going to fight for country and freedom.

(The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 November 1922)

The finished arch was unveiled by Governor-General Lord Forster on Anzac Day, 25 April 1925. Despite heavy rain, thousands of spectators turned out for the ceremony, which included a guard of honour, wreath laying, and speeches. The Governor-General spoke of the significance of local war memorials, saying:

Each locality should erect its own memorial to its own men ... It is a tribute of those living in each locality to the valour, endurance, and splendid service of their own men and boys.

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Burwood War Memorial Arch - stone tablets. Photograph taken by the NSW War Memorials Register, February 2022.

An evolving tribute

The Burwood War Memorial Arch continues to be an important site for commemorating military service. It was rededicated on 11 August 1990 in honour of all Australians who have served. The names of conflicts and peacekeeping missions in which Australians have been involved have been added to the sides of the pillars.

Positioned directly behind the arch, and visible through the archway itself, is The Bugler from Burwood sculpture. A more recent addition to the park, The Bugler was unveiled in 2015. The statue depicts Leonard Francis Hall, a Burwood native who served in the Great War.

Also located in the park are the Burwood Sandakan Memorial and the Michael Tognolini Peace Garden.

Help us record history

Do you have a relative listed on the Burwood War Memorial Arch? We'd like to hear more about them. Contact the NSW War Memorials Register to find out more.

#LestWeForget

Photographs taken by the NSW War Memorials Register, February 2022.

  • Image 1- Burwood War Memorial Arch, front view.
  • Image 2 - Burwood War Memorial Arch foundation stone (left) and unveiling stone (right).