Tuesday, 13 August 2019


Petitions

Boer War memorial


Boer War memorial

To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria

The Petition of the undersigned, being concerned residents of the State of Victoria, draws the attention of the House to the proposed relocation of the Victorian Boer War (South African Soldiers) Memorial, presently situated at the intersection of St.Kilda Road and Albert Road, Melbourne

The relocation of this Memorial has become necessary due to the proposed construction of the Domain Rail Station.

The Memorial is of the highest significance to the military history of Victoria and Australia as it commemorates ‘All Australians’ who fought and died from 1899 to 1902. Initial enlistments were Colonial troops and following Federation in 1901, enlistments were Commonwealth troops even though actual recruitment continued for several years in the control of the individual States.

The memorial was constructed on State Crown Land with funds raised through public subscription and dedicated in 1924, ten years before the completion of the Shrine of Remembrance. The Shrine precinct presently has no Boer War Memorial at which Commemorative Services can be held. The present proposal is to disassemble the memorial, place it in storage for a number (?) of years pending completion of the Station and then reconstruct it on the present inadequate, and by then, substantially reduced site at the entrance to the Station.

The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority ‘Environment Effects Statement’ states—

“The concept design for the re-siting of the Memorial to the west of the station box with stairs and platforms immediately to its east appears to be an unsatisfactory outcome which compromises the setting of the structure ...... a change to the setting and presentation of the memorial is likely to result from its relocation on the site and there would be a consequent adverse impact on its aesthetic values.”

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria—

enter negotiations with the Trustees of the Shrine of Remembrance in order to have the Victorian Boer War (South African Soldiers) Memorial moved without delay from the present site to a new location amongst Memorials for other conflicts within the precincts of the Shrine of Remembrance.

By Mr FREGON (Mount Waverley) (1012 signatures)