The Gulgong District Soldiers Memorial is a band rotunda, bearing multiple name plates and commemorative plaques. The rotunda is constructed from brick and re-enforced concrete and is 19 feet round, by 27 feet. The floor is 4 feet 6 inches above the ground on the lower side and the pillars are 10 feet high to the concrete dome.
The rotunda is set within Gulgong’s Anzac Memorial Park, with entrance gates displaying the name. A First World War German war trophy gun and a Lone Pine tree are also located in the park.
Planning for the war memorial was underway by the end of 1915, with the Mudgee Guardian, 23 December 1915, reporting that Mayor Alderman R.W. Heard led a meeting on 14 December to consider, “the advisability of erecting a rotunda in the Medley-street park in honor of those who have fallen or served in the Empire's cause.”
By mid-1916, the Gulgong Progress Association (GPA), who were leading the project, had chosen to proceed with a band rotunda, with a marble honour roll to list the names of all soldiers who had enlisted from Gulgong and surrounding areas (Mudgee Guardian, 17 July 1916).
The GPA sought assistance from outside Gulgong, meeting with residents from Tallewang around August 1916. By that stage, the winner of the design competition had been chosen. Sydney architect Albert Edmund Bates design included the rotunda as the central figure of the park, which was to be terraced and planted with trees (Mudgee Guardian, 17 August 1916).
Fundraising was also underway by this time. The Mudgee Guardian, 11 September 1916, published that 92 pounds and six pence had been received. By that November, Alderman A. Baldwin had submitted a proposal to the Gulgong Council to dispose of the ‘People's Park’ to use the to acquire land in Herbert Street for the memorial park. The plan was supported but the price of the desired land was too high, so that it was proposed to continue with the original site (Mudgee Guardian, 6 November 1916).
The site was still under discussion by December, and a decision to use the Medley Street Park was taken before the close of the year (Mudgee Guardian, 28 December 1916). Work began in January 1917, in conjunction with further fundraising. The builder on the project was James Wildman. The final construction cost came to £244.
The rotunda was opened on 9 March 1918, during a ceremony conducted by the Mayor of Gulgong, Alderman Wade Gudgeon. Following its opening the Sydney Mail, 17 April 1918, reported, “The rotunda is regarded as one of the finest in Australia and is the only one of its kind to be seen in any country district. This kind of structure was adopted by the association because of its lasting qualities. It will last for generations and properly emphasises the undying valour of the Australian soldier.”
From the Mail’s article it is known that the honour roll had not been erected at the time of the opening. In conclusion it stated, “It is proposed to add a huge trachyte tablet when the war is over showing the names of the local soldiers.”
Plans to continue the war memorial gained momentum by November 1928, when the issue was raised a meeting of Gulgong Council via a letter from the Gulgong Memorial Committee. They sought permission to erect gates and it was granted (Mudgee Guardian, 22 November 1928).
Work was almost complete by April 1929, with the gates being designed by Chubbs' (Aust) Ltd and erected by Mr H.M. Bennett. The honour roll casting and engraving of the names and crest was done by Wunderlich (Aust) Ltd (Mudgee Guardian, 11 April 1929). It was originally planned to have two tablets each bearing 125 names. However it was later found that there were 15 names too many, which meant the provision of two further plates. To finish off the site, Mr J.E. Billett completed the painting and Mr T. Britt constructed the driveway and gravelled the walkways.
A grand ceremony was held at the park on 25 April 1929 and a detailed report was published in the Mudgee Guardian on 2 May 1929. It included the official opening of the gates and the unveiling of the soldiers' names. The park was also dedicated on the day.
Various commemorative services are held in the park throughout the year.