Terrigal Foreshore War Memorial

The Terrigal Foreshore War Memorial consists of what was once two war memorials: the Erina District War Memorial and the Terrigal Beach RSL War Memorial. The site of the redevelopment was that of the existing Terrigal Beach RSL War Memorial. It was redeveloped in 2018–2019 to accommodate the relocation of the Erina District War Memorial. The new memorial was rededicated on 25 April 2019 by the families of the First World War veterans mentioned on its honour roll plaque. 

Created by Central Coast artist Leash Craig, the ‘Brothers in Arms’ statue centrepiece of the rotunda-style monument represents two soldiers of the Great War assisting one another in combat. It is symbolic of the unique bond of mateship and teamwork between those that serve together in times of conflict and in peace. It is also symbolic of the brothers from the local community who lost their lives in battle during the First World War as mentioned in the war memorial honour roll located on the plinth supporting the statue. 

A story board is located adjacent to the memorial that details its history and the significance of the Brothers in Arms statue. 

About the original individual memorials:

The Erina District War Memorial was a white tabernacle-style war memorial constructed in Erina, NSW, to commemorate the memory of service personnel lost in the First World War from the Erina, Terrigal, Wamberal, and Matcham areas. The memorial was originally constructed on the junction of The Entrance Road and Terrigal Drive after the war and unveiled on Armistice Day, 11 November 1923.  Owing to the reconstruction of the road junction, the memorial was relocated to the Salvation Army’s Woodport property in 1985 and re-dedicated on 6 August 1986 to commemorate those lost in all conflicts up to the Vietnam War. It was subsequently relocated to the Terrigal Foreshore in 2018, as the Woodport site was required for the construction of a new church.

The Terrigal Beach RSL War Memorial originally consisted of a memorial obelisk made of sandstone, a flagpole resting on a raised platform and a sandstone wall. It was originally situated to the east of the Terrigal Life Saving Club, circa 1984–1985. It was dedicated “to the memory of all men and women of Australia who gave their lives in the many areas of conflict in which our country has been engaged.” It was subsequently moved to its current site on the foreshore in 2001.