Inverell First World War Memorial

Inverell First World War Memorial is a grey granite column, surmounted by a sculpture of an urn. The column is atop a stone plinth, which has an honour roll for the First World War inscribed on its sides. The whole is positioned on a white stone platform, consisting of three steps.

“At a well-attended meeting at Inverell it was decided to erect a soldiers' Memorial…”  said The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser on the 15 May 1923. It was to be positioned at the corner of Ohio and Evans Streets at a cost of 1,000 pounds. A year later, “A meeting of the Inverell War Memorial Committee was held to consider the tenders…” said The Moree Gwydir Examiner, 3 Mar 1924. Messrs. Charles D. Hedges and Co. of Sydney, won the tender at £1,061 and it was agreed that the foundation stone be laid on Anzac Day, and that the unveiling ceremony take place on Armistice Day.

The foundation stone was laid on Anzac Day, 25 April 1924. The Inverell Times, 29 April 1924 published in detail the unveiling ceremony conducted by the Inverell Mayor Ald. J. McIlveen. Major-General Cox, who had been associated with soldiers from the district for thirty years, laid the stone. The newspaper account described in detail the proposed memorial.

On 26 September 1924, the Inverell Times reported that Major General Rosenthal, M.L.A. had agreed to unveil the monument on Armistice Day, 11 November 1924 and the Federal Treasurer Dr Earle Page would unveil the monument. Later, the memorial was moved from the centre of the road in Evans Street to its present position, in front of the Inverell and District Memorial Olympic Pool. It is used for commemorative services throughout the year.