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Loch Memorial Reserve
Loch-Poowong Road LOCH, South Gippsland Shire

All information on this page is maintained by Vic. War Heritage Inventory. Click below for their website and contact details.
Vic. War Heritage Inventory
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Statement of Significance

What is Significant?
The Loch Memorial Reserve established in 1922 including the World War 1 memorial gates constructed by J Robinson in 1932, the World War 2 memorial Oak trees and other associated plantings at Loch-Poowong Road, Loch.

Why is it Significant?
The Loch Memorial Reserve is of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the district and township of Loch.

Historically, the WW 1 memorial gates and the WW 2 memorial oak trees are important as an expression of the community's grief and pride, and provide an evocative memorial to these conflicts. The naming of each WW 2 tree and the apparently deliberate planting layout contributes to their significance. The Lone Pine tree is also of interest. (AHC criteria - A.4 and D.2) Socially, the Reserve is important as a focus of the Loch community over many years. (AHC criterion - G.1) Aesthetically, the simple elegant design of the WW 1 memorial gates enhances the entrance to the reserve, while the mature trees, particularly the WW2 commemorative trees, contribute to the sense of amenity and enclosure. The WW 2 trees are the only known examples in the Shire that retain the original commemorative plaques in situ. (AHC criterion - E.1)

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    • Physical Description 1

      Loch Memorial Reserve - Physical Description 1

      Loch Memorial Reserve is situated on the banks of the Alsop Creek to the north east of the township. It comprises a grassed football and cricket oval, three concrete tennis courts and associated buildings and facilities. Most of the buildings are grouped in the south west corner adjacent to the main entrance and include a small brick single storey pavilion with a skillion roof facing the oval, an iron shed with a gable roof and tilt garage door and a small cement block public toilet. The area around these buildings includes a small car park and a picnic and playground area containing BBQs and play equipment.

      Significant elements of the Reserve include: The World War 1 Memorial Gates These are located at the entrance to the Reserve and comprise four wrought iron gates supported on four rough-hewn granite (?
      ) pillars. The pillars are of similar design with the inner pair being slightly taller. The gates comprise a pair of large central gates between the large pillars and two smaller gates on either side. They are of similar design including a sunrise motif on the top and are painted green. There are bronze plaques on each of the two inner pillars that contain the names of local people who served in World War 1. A small plaque at the base of one of the pillars includes the name of the manufacturer, J Robinson of Carlton.

      The World War 2 memorial Oaks & memorial Pine The World War 2 memorial Oaks are planted in two areas; an L shaped group around the edge of the picnic and playground area, and a second group planted in pairs planted around the perimeter of the oval. Each tree has a plaque commemorating the person to whom it is dedicated. A further tree has been planted in the north east corner of the site, which is taken from a seed from Lone Pine. A plaque beside this tree advises that it was planted by the local RSL in 1983.

      Physical Description 2

      Loch Memorial Reserve - Physical Description 2

      Contractor

      J Robinson (Memorial Gates)

      Style

      Interwar Memorial and Public Park

      Historical Australian Themes

      Loch Memorial Reserve - Historical Australian Themes

      Thematic Context

      Government and Community Institutions

      Sub-Themes

      Leisure and Recreation

      Veterans Description for Public

      Loch Memorial Reserve - Veterans Description for Public

      The Loch Memorial Reserve is situated on the banks of the Alsop Creek to the north east of the township, on Loch-Poowong Road. The Reserve was officially opened with a gymkhana (a horse riding meet) on January 30th 1922, and followed by a ball in the Loch Mechanics Hall that evening. An inscription board marked "In honour of those who fell in the Great War 1914-18. Given by the Residents of Loch and District" was erected in time for the opening. Ten years later on Anzac Day 1932, Memorial Gates were unveiled to replace the inscription board.

      The Memorial Gates comprise of a large pair of central gates between two large pillars and two smaller gates on either side. They include a sunrise motif on the top and are painted green. There are bronze plaques on each of the two inner pillars that list the names 50 fallen and returned residents who served in the First World War. A small plaque at the base of one of the pillars includes the name of the manufacturer, J Robinson of Carlton.

      English Oak trees were planted in remembrance soldiers fallen in the Second World War, sometime in the post-war period. The semi formal planting of the trees along the edge of the seating area and in pairs around the edge of the oval appears to be a deliberate strategy to provide a memorial that also enhances the amenity of the Reserve. The planting of trees in pairs along the perimeter also alludes to the "mateship" ethos that is part of the Anzac legend. Each tree has a plaque commemorating the person to whom it is dedicated. A further tree has been planted in the north east corner of the site, which is taken from a seed from Lone Pine. A plaque beside this tree advises that it was planted by the local RSL in 1983.

      Until the construction of the Reserve, all sports grounds in the town (with the exception of the tennis club) were hired and little could be done to improve the grounds or erect permanent facilities. This was noted in the editorial of The Loch Express on December 4th 1918 and the matter was discussed at the annual meeting of the Loch Progress Association in 1920, where it was decided to seek offers of potential sites.

      A public meeting was subsequently held in July 1920 to consider several offers including the one chosen, which was offered by Mr Henry. At the end of the meeting, it was moved "that this meeting decide to acquire the site for a recreation reserve." A committee of management was subsequently appointed and set about preparing the site. Over £300 was raised in donations to contribute to the development of the reserve. In addition, the Loch Branch of the RSL gave a donation of £76 and requested that the reserve be named the "Loch Memorial Reserve". A public meeting was called and this name was accepted.

      The Reserve has been further developed over the intervening years to include a brick pavilion, toilet block, tennis courts and other amenities.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      South Gippsland - South Gippsland Heritage Study

      Author: David Helms with Trevor Westmore
      Year: 2004
      Grading:

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