The Gravesend War Memorial is a granite and marble obelisk, standing on a rectangular base. The base is inscribed with an honour roll of those who served in the First World War.
The obelisk is surrounded by several white, headstone-shaped monuments, inscribed with an honour roll for the Second World War. These were added at a later date. A flagpole is also located nearby.
The obelisk was made by prominent stonemason M.W. Hardy of Narrabri, NSW. He created many memorials of various types throughout the North West and New England Regions of the state.
The obelisk was dedicated on the afternoon of 1 September 1920. The ceremony was attended by some 400 people and was reported in the Warialda Standard and Northern Districts' Advertiser on 6 September. The event began with a march from the local hall, which included returned soldiers, the Warialda Brass Band and school children. Mrs W.A. Pike who lost two brothers in the Great War, William and Henry, unveiled the monument. The paper also included a list of the veterans inscribed on the monument and a detailed physical description of the piece.
The memorial is located on a railway reserve, which provides the setting for various memorial services including Anzac Day.