Harwood Island Great War Memorial

The Harwood Island Great War Memorial is a trachyte obelisk, supported by a trachyte pedestal, on a three-tier freestone base. It is inscribed with the names of around 50 residents of Harwood Island who served in the war. Their names are highlighted in gold and a Maltese Cross marks those who fell. The memorial is surrounded by a concrete-post and pipe-rail fence and there is a flagpole near the south western corner of the enclosure.

Work to erect the memorial commenced on 26 August 1921, at the pre-selected site located between the Water Brigade Hall and the public wharf. Stones had been arriving at the site by boat since July (Daily Examiner, 13 July; 27 August 1921).

Subscribers of the Soldiers' Memorial Fund met on 30 August in the hall to discuss the monument, which was almost complete. The date for the unveiling was set as 17 September and a committee was appointed to plan the event (Daily Examiner, 1 September 1921). Over the next two weeks, the Daily Examiner reported on the preparations.

The unveiling went ahead as scheduled, with a detailed account appearing in The Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser on 19 September. The proceedings were led by Mr Jas. R Smith, manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining (CSR) Company, with other speakers including Reverend L E J Gray (Church of England), Dr R H Fallon (Baptist), Father Burkin, Reverend Boyce, and Councillor R J McDonald, President of Harwood Shire. The unveiling itself was performed by Mrs Dorey, a mother of three soldiers. 

The article also included a detailed description of the memorial and stated the final cost was £315. CSR had donated £100 towards the funds and the memorial has been fully paid off.