Sunbury War Memorial

The Sunbury Soldiers Memorial, erected in 1921, is of regional architectural, historical and social significance as an unusually elaborate country-town memorial commemorating local participation in the Great War. The erection and unveiling of the monument was an important event in the community demonstrating their strong desire to commemorate the 'valour and heroism' of the men whose names are inscribed on the monument.

The memorial's direct association with the prominent Clarke family adds substantially to its importance. Although the idea to erect such a monument was a community initiative, the memorial was eventually paid for by Sir Rupert Clarke who had it erected in remembrance of a fallen nephew.

Architecturally the monument could well be of higher significance due to its 'massive and chaste' design in granite and bronze. It was erected in an era when most war memorials were in the form of stone obelisks or much simpler stone structures.

The memorial and its enclosure is substantially intact. The memorial is an important part of the streetscape and Sunbury civic precinct, and integral to the interpretation and presentation of the history of the Sunbury district.

Group

Monuments and Memorials

Category

War Memorial