Tarana First and Second World Wars Memorial

The Tarana First and Second World Wars Memorial comprises of a block of granite sitting on top of a supporting granite block, mounted on a concrete slab and base. It commemorates those from the district who served in the First and Second World Wars and Vietnam War. It was originally erected to commemorate those who served in the First World War, with the names, rank and fate of 25 veterans and one nurse inscribed in gold on a polished side of the top granite slab. The memorial was designed and created by Mr Bushby of Bowenfels.

The roll of honour inscribed with the names of 42 service men and women from the district who served in the Second World War, together with the name of one veteran from the Vietnam War were added later to a second side of the memorial. The memorial is surrounded by a white chain fence, accompanied on one side by a flagpole. It is located near the railway station.

The memorial was unveiled on 10 November 1923. A large and representative gathering attended the ceremony with addresses by dignitaries including the Hon  J C Fitzpatrick MLA, Mr A G Manning MHR, Reverend Smith (Methodist Minister of Oberon) and the President of the local Patriotic Committee (Lithgow Mercury, 14 November 1923). The unveiling was performed by Mrs Bartlett, senr, who had four sons at the Front with one killed in action. The memorial was originally surmounted by a machine gun, which has since been removed.

A Tarana War Memorial Fund was formed after the Second World War to fundraise for the addition of a commemoration to the existing memorial. A variety of events were held including a Sports Day and Grand Dance at the Tarana Anniversary Weekend on 25 January 1947, which was reported in detail in the National Advocate (Bathurst) 27 January 1947. The exact date of the addition of the Second World War commemoration is unknown.