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Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower

Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower
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Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower, full length, at night
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Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower, conflict dedication plaque
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Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower, close-up of plaque of names, A-F
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Coonabarabran War Memorial Clock Tower, close-up of plaque of names, N to end of list
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Description / Background

The memorial is a tall rectangular tower, made from local sandstone, with a four-faced clock at the top. Lights are positioned halfway up the tower on each of the four sides. Below the lights are four large brass plaques, three inscribed with veterans' names and one, on the east side, with the dedication. There are also two flagstaffs on the north and south sides of the tower.

Following the First World War, a Soldiers Memorial Committee was formed in Coonabarabran. The design for the clock tower was submitted by Mr A Paul, honorary architect, and was approved by the Memorial Committee in July 1926 (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 2 August 1926). The clock tower was to be built with cement or stone facings. Three months later the Memorial Committee was advised that construction of the proposed clock tower had been approved subject to it being erected in sandstone. 

A meeting of the Soldiers Memorial Committee held in August 1927 stated that the present plans did not provide for a sufficiently wide tower for a striking clock and it was therefore decided to ask the architect to increase the width of the tower (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 1 September 1927). The Memorial Committee also favoured the idea of placing the names of all district soldiers on the memorial.

In December 1927 the Memorial Committee had finalised all arrangements for the erection of the clock tower and announced that construction would commence in January 1928 (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, 8 December 1927). Constructed of local sandstone, the clock tower cost £1,300, which was raised by local subscription.

The Evening News (Sydney), 23 August 1928, reported on the unveiling of the memorial held on 22 August 1928 by Major General Charles Frederick Cox, who congratulated the large crowd from the surrounding district on the beautiful clock tower (The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 August 1928).

Various commemorative services are held at the memorial throughout the year.

Inscription

Dedication plaque - east face

1914–1919

To

perpetuate the memory

of the men of

Coonabarabran

& District

who served the Empire

in

the Great War.

"Their names live for evermore"

Smaller plaque - south face

In memory of

those from the

Shire of Coonabarabran

who gave their lives

in the Great War

(1939–1945)

Bottom plaque - south face

* Denotes Killed or Died. [Note: The abbreviation DOS for Died on Service is used in veterans list below]

Veterans listed on this memorial

Veterans listed on this memorial

Last held rank Given name Family name Conflict/s Service No. Service Campaign Read more
W Williams World War 1 view
D M Wood World War 1 view
W R Wood World War 1 view
W Woods World War 1 view
L Worrell World War 1 view
M Wortly World War 1 view

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Sidebar
Address
Intersection Dalgarno Street and Newell Highway
Coonabarabran NSW 2357
Local Government Area
Warrumbungle Shire
Setting
Roadside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Clock/clock tower/sundial
Recorded by
Graham Wilson, David Roden, George Colless (photographs), cobey_leigh716 (photographs)
Year of construction
1928
Dedication date
22 August 1928
Conflict/s
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45
Materials
Brass
Concrete
Marble
Metal
Sandstone