Oxley War Monument

Oxley-Milawa Road,Oxley, WANGARATTA RURAL CITY

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Vic. War Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

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  • Physical Description 1

    Oxley War Monument - Physical Description 1

    The Soldier's Memorial at Oxley is situated on the high ground on the east side of the King river and on the south side of the road leading through Oxley to Milawa. The site is well chosen as it is visible from the road for a considerable distance from either direction of approach. The memorial is a combination of a memorial to the fallen and an honour roll to those who served in the great war 1914-18. The foundations comprise a mass of concrete twelve feet square, carried up to a height of two feet above the ground and on top of this rests the lower step. The concrete in the foundation is completely concealed by an earthen mound extending out round the memorial to a distance of about six feet six inches, this mound being covered with six inches of gravel and over the whole is spread about three inches of specially selected pure white quartz from Bendigo. The memorial is carried on three steps or footing courses made from Footscray basalt or bluestone. Each step is 11 inches in height and 1 foot 6 inches in width, giving an effective tread of 15 inches. The lower step covers a ground area of 11 feet 2 inches square whilst that of the upper or third step has a superficial area of 6 feet 2 inches. On the top of the steps is placed the base stone - solid block of Harcourt granite measuring 3 feet 8 inches square by a height of two feet ten inches, weighing about three and a half tons. This stone with the exception of the margins, and the portion on which the inscription is cut is left in the rock face style, the margins being fine and dressed. On the front or north side of this stone is cut the following inscription in suitably proportioned lettering:-
    
    Erected by Residents of the SHIRE OF OXLEY To Perpetuate the Memory of Citizens of the Shire who Served in THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918
    
    The die stone of polished Harcourt granite rests on the base and is 2 feet 6 inches square by a height of four feet, and on the front of this are cut, in letters 3/4 in. in height, the names of 70 men who died on service. On the remaining sides are cut in 5/8 in. letters the names of those that served. The die stone is finished off on the top with a cap of similar stone with polished face and on the sides are inscribed the battle Fronts on which the Australian Army fought, Gallipoli being given the pride of place in the front of the stone. The whole memorial is finished off with an obelisk of Harcourt granite a little over two feet square at the base and one foot square at nine niches from the top and has a height of 10 feet nine inches. The obelisk is finished off in the rustis or rock faced style with fine axed margins. The total height of the memorial from ground level is 23 feet 3 inches. The whole of the work was carried out in a very high class of workmanship by Mr PARNALL, of Wangaratta, to the design as prepared by the Shire Engineer, Mr W H SCOTT, C.E. The memorial is enclosed by a fence of reinforced concrete posts and wire of neat design.

    Historical Australian Themes

    Oxley War Monument - Historical Australian Themes

    Remembering the fallen

    Physical Conditions

    Oxley War Monument - Physical Conditions

    Good

    Usage/Former Usage

    Oxley War Monument - Usage/Former Usage

    Commemoration

    Veterans Description for Public

    Oxley War Monument - Veterans Description for Public

    The Oxley War Monument was unveiled on Armistice Day (11 November) 1922 at a gathering of one thousand people. The memorial was built at a cost of £600, from funds raised by voluntary subscription from residents of the Shire of Oxley. The monument was made by A. Parnall, of Wangaratta, to a design prepared by the Shire Engineer, W. H. Scott. The ceremony began at 11 am and concluded at 4.30 pm, after speeches and the awarding of soldiers' certificates from the Shire. Over 330 men from the Shire enlisted and 70 died overseas.

    The Memorial is situated on the high ground on the east side of the King river and on the south side of the road leading through Oxley to Milawa. The site is well chosen as it is visible from the road for a considerable distance from either direction of approach. The memorial's foundations are concealed by an earthen mound extending out round the memorial to a distance of about six feet six inches, this mound is covered with six inches of gravel of specially selected pure white quartz from Bendigo. The memorial is carried on three steps or footing courses made from Footscray basalt or bluestone. On the top of the steps is placed the base stone - solid block of Harcourt granite measuring 3 feet 8 inches square by a height of two feet ten inches, weighing about three and a half tons. On the front or north side of this stone is cut the following inscription:-
    
    "Erected by Residents of the SHIRE OF OXLEY To Perpetuate the Memory of Citizens of the Shire who Served in THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918"
    
    The die stone of polished Harcourt granite rests on the base and is 2 feet 6 inches square by a height of four feet, and on the front of this are cut the names of 70 men who died on service. On the remaining sides the names of those that served are cut. The die stone is finished off on the top with a cap of similar stone with polished face and on the sides are inscribed the battle fronts on which the Australian Army fought, Gallipoli being given the pride of place in the front of the stone. The whole memorial is finished off with an obelisk of Harcourt granite a little over two feet square at the base and one foot square at nine niches from the top and has a height of 10 feet nine inches. The total height of the memorial from ground level is 23 feet 3 inches.

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