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St. Arnaud Boer War Memorial

Location

NAPIER STREET and MARKET STREET ST ARNAUD, Northern Grampians Shire

File Number

Original Hermes No: 14412

Level

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boer war st arnaud bank view
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boer war memorial st arnuad
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Statement of Significance

The South African (Boer War Memorial) in Napier Street, St Arnaud was erected in 1903. It was situated in a memorial park flanked by four small cannons and bounded by an iron palisade fence. The Memorial was moved to its current site some time in the 1930s. It is still a prominent marker in the township and has been joined by a memorial to World War II and post World War II conflicts (Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Kuwait).

The Boer War was the name given to the South African Wars of 1880-81 and 1899-1902 fought between the British and the descendants of the Dutch settlers (Boers) in Southern Africa. As part of the British Empire, the Australian Colonies offered troops in 1899 and the first Mounted Australian units arrived in South Africa in December 1899. At least 12,000 Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or (from 1901) the new Australian Commonwealth. It is believed that at least 600 Australians died in the campaign, nearly half (265) being from Victoria. At least sixty men from St Arnaud and the surrounding district served in the Boer War. The memorial at St Arnaud commemorates their involvement and notes in particular the death of three local men, Private Schultze, Lieutenant Skene, and Private McNally.

The Memorial has a bluestone base, with white granite plinth and polished red granite Doric column with an urn carved on top. The lettering on the column is in gold. Carved in the white granite plinth is a drinking fountain, and fixed to the plinth on two sides is a crossed rifle and wreath insignia. The column appears to have been made and designed by A & G Ballantine of Carlton, who were monumental sculptors and granite merchants. The design was commissioned by the local fund raising committee, who were able to raise £115 towards the cost.

Group