Dapto War Memorial and Garden

This memorial garden, called Buckley Walk, incorporates several local war memorials and plaques. The memorials are set within a landscape of trees, lawns, garden beds and public seating that forms the forecourt of the station, known as Hartigan Park. Mature trees including figs and date palms contribute to the setting. The park fronts Station Street with the circular vehicular driveway of the station behind. A paved path lined with rosemary leads from the station to a paved area where three pink granite blocks sit on a circular base. Each block carries inscriptions and plaques and public seats encircle the memorials. 

The first block remembers those who served in the First World War and includes a plaque with 73 names taken from the Dapto Public School Honour Board. In October 2014, the Dapto RSL received an Anzac Centenary Local Grant for this special plaque to be placed on the memorial and it was dedicated on the Anzac Centenary in 2015.

The second block remembers those who served in the Second World War. It also includes a more recent plaque remembering the sinking of the A.H.S. Centaur on 14 May 1943. Many of those who died came from nearby Corrimal.

The third block remembers those who served in Korea and Vietnam. 

In one of the garden beds is an additional plaque remembering the fatal crash of a Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Hudson at Bong Bong Mountain on 4 November 1942 which killed the four crew members. 

The memorial garden and station forecourt combines formal and informal landscaping elements and makes a major contribution to the setting of the railway station. The garden and memorial lies within the heritage listing boundary of the Dapto Railway Station Group