The South Grafton Cenotaph is situated in a park on the bank of the Clarence River at South Grafton. It is a granite obelisk, standing on a pedestal, which is supported by a three-step platform. The whole is positioned on a large, coloured-concrete slab. The concrete slopes slightly upward from the park, providing easy access to the memorial via its front side. There are gardens on either side of this access.
Behind the monument is a curved Wall of Respect, bearing plaques for the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. It also carries a profile of a soldier Rest on Reverse Arms. Three flagpoles stand between the memorial and the Wall of Respect.
The names of the fallen from the First World War are carved on the four sides of the memorial's pedestal. Not only are those from South Grafton commemorated, but also from the surrounding areas of Sherwood Creek, Chambigne, Blaxland’s Creek, Clarenza, O.B.X. Creek, and Coutts Crossing.
Planning for a memorial began in mid-1921, when a local council meeting was held in South Grafton to discuss if the town should co-operate with Grafton on their memorial or erect one of their own. The meeting had low attendance and the proposal to build a memorial for the town was rejected. A meeting in August was more successful and voted to construct a memorial in South Grafton. A committee was also formed to assist with the project (Daily Examiner, 15 July 1921; Grafton Argus, 11 August 1921).
Despite these meetings, the movement had lapsed by July 1923 and was reactivated later that year. Representatives from the South Grafton Memorial Committee met with the South Grafton Council in October and requested the memorial be located on Skinner Street. Meetings took place and the design and possible location were discussed. By December, it was decided to continue with the work when all necessary details are arranged (Daily Examiner, 19 October 1923; 18 December 1923).
The monument was constructed by Matheson and Collins of Grafton. It was unveiled on 25 April 1924 at an event attended by a large crowd. The ceremony included a religious portion presided over by Reverend Sydney Smith, late chaplain of the A.I.F., as well as speeches and songs. The unveiling was performed by the mothers, widows and orphans of the deceased soldiers (Daily Examiner, 28 April 1924).
By April 1950, the South Grafton RSL sub-Branch were concerned about the condition of the memorial. They decided to approach South Grafton Council to take action. By November, Council had decided to work with the sub-Branch on a proposal to move the memorial to a different location (Daily Examiner, 21 April 1950; 29 August 1950).
A year later, the memorial was relocated from Skinner Street to the eastern end of the Boulevard. The work was supervised by Mr Collins of Matheson and Collins. Each section of the monument was moved by crane and freestone steps were placed on a concrete block to receive the granite block. A special fund had been created for the project (Daily Examiner, 11 August 1951).
In 2017, the Cenotaph was again relocated and refurbished. The rededication of the memorial took place on 26 March. The memorial area was expanded to commemorate other conflicts in which Australia has been involved through plaques attached to the wall behind the memorial, which runs alongside a walkway leading up to the Wall of Respect. Included are plaques for the Boer War, First World War, Second World War, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, Vietnam, Peace Keeping Commitments, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They are organised in ascending chronological order, from Afghanistan. The final plaques are the Poppy, The Ode, and a dedication to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served.
The surrounding park also has several gardens, one of which includes a plaque commemorating the Merchant Navy and war animals. Another contains a memorial to the Anzacs of Greece. A Remembrance Seat has also been installed, featuring the last lines of The Ode. Various commemorative services are held at the site throughout the year.