Parramatta War Memorial

The Parramatta War Memorial is a trachyte stone obelisk, supported by a rectangular base of the same material. The whole monument is approximately five metres high. It stands on a stepped platform, on the eastern side of Prince Alfred Park, facing Church Street. This is considered the front of the memorial, and a short staircase gives access to this side from the footpath.  

Attached to the front of the memorial is its original dedication plaque, as well as an inscription, which identifies the official unveiling date as 12 May 1923. 

The names of the fallen from Parramatta and district are inscribed on the base of the memorial and highlighted in gold. A parchment containing all those who enlisted in the war was installed in a cavity in the base during the unveiling ceremony. 

Read more about the origins of the memorial on the City of Parramatta Research and Collections website. 

Digger statue

A life-sized statue of a First World War soldier was unveiled at the memorial in April 2019. It was commissioned by City of Parramatta Council and Parramatta RSL sub-Branch to commemorate the Centenary of Armistice in 2018.

The new Digger statue at Prince Alfred Square is a significant and powerful addition to Parramatta's first and largest First World War memorial, It is fitting to have a lasting tribute to members of the Parramatta community who courageously served our nation in World War I and subsequent wars.

This monument has since been dedicated to those who had served in World War Two, Malaya, Korea, Borneo, and South Vietnam. It remains a gathering point for Anzac day memorials. It has and will perhaps always be a reminder of the effects of war, but at another level this memorial, through its history of how it came to be – the community involvement, fundraising through public subscriptions and events, the debate over the preferred site and design, whether names should be inscribed on the monument or not – also symbolises community spirit, participation, debate, and the evolution of a city. Perhaps one could also see this as a monument to a town coming of age.

— Councillor Andrew Wilson, City of Parramatta

Commemorations

Anzac Day ceremonies at Parramatta's Prince Alfred Park regularly attract more than 2,000 attendees. According to Doug Mackay, Vice President of the local RSL sub-Branch, "Anzac Day is the most important day on the sub-Branch calendar, as it allows the community the opportunity to come along and honour the sacrifices made by those in service."

In 2019, a free Anzac Day interactive 'touch table' display exhibited 1,962 First World War biographies and accounts of Parramatta service personnel, including photos, diaries and biographies.