Cheltenham WWII Memorial
289-293 CENTRE DANDENONG ROAD CHELTENHAM, KINGSTON CITY
Statement of Significance
The Second World War memorial at the rear of the Cheltenham RSL Club was unveiled on 2 May 1962 by Sir George Holland, former State President of the Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmens Imperial League Australia (now the RSL). It was originally located in Cheltenham Park and moved to its current site in 2000. Due to the widening of Nepean Highway, two World War I memorials and a South African war memorial had been moved to this new memorial square in the park. In 2000 all the memorials were relocated to Kingston Heath Reserve and officially unveiled on 6 April 2000 by local Member of Parliament Simon Crean.
The Second World War memorial is one of a group of eight monuments located at the end of a small parade ground behind the Cheltenham RSL club. The memorial was designed by architect Bernard Evans and Associates. It is a tall structure comprising two granite forks on a solid granite base with a large bronze bowl. This bowl was described as the traditional ?tin hat? in green toned brass, designed to shelter an eternal flame (Moorabbin News, 2 May 1962). There is a drainage outlet for the bowl at the back of the monument. Underneath the bowl the years 1939 and 1945 are inscribed in bronze and below that is a bronze emblem of the Returned Sailors Soldiers and Airmens Imperial League Australia.
The abstract design of the memorial is a departure from the usual cenotaphs, columns and statues which memorialise the wars.
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MARKET GARDENERS TRAM PLATEWAY
Victorian Heritage Register H0928 -
MOORABBIN RAIL
Victorian Heritage Inventory -
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