COMMONWEALTH MEMORIAL

The Commonwealth Memorial at Stawell was erected to commemorate the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth on 1st January 1901. It was declared open by Mr T Skene, the Federal Member of the House of Representatives for the district, in a ceremony on 24 August 1903. The first call for a memorial was made by the local branch of the Australian Natives Association in late 1900. After a public meeting on the matter, a committee was formed and a sporting carnival organised to raise money for the memorial. The event was delayed because of fears of low attendance during the Federation celebrations in Melbourne, and finally took the form of a moonlight concert and dance near the Town Hall on 27 February 1901. Thirty pounds was raised and another thirty pounds had been given by the Burough Council. The memorial was built by Stawell monumental masons George Robson & George Gray.

The memorial is placed in a prominent position on a small block at a major street intersection in the town, and can be readily viewed from all sides. The form of the memorial is derived from the domed circular temple, a common device in the Victorian era for combined drinking fountains and lamps. The base and dome are in Stawell stone, the four columns in rose granite and black marble. The fountain no longer functions, and the iron gaslight structure has recently been reconstructed.

How is it significant?

The Commonwealth Memorial at Stawell is of historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Commonwealth Memorial at Stawell is of historical significance as possibly the only memorial in Victoria to be specifically dedicated to the inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth. A number of other monuments in the State can be connected with Federation but relate either to events further removed from the inauguration, or to specific persons involved in the lead-up to Federation. There were few buildings of any kind in the State specifically constructed for purposes related to Federation.

The Stawell memorial is of historical significance as an expression of the enthusiasm for Federation of the residents of Stawell.

Group

Monuments and Memorials

Category

Memorial