Newtown War Memorial

Artwork description

The Newtown War Memorial is a granite and sandstone obelisk, located on the corner of King and Newman streets outside Newtown Public School. It was erected in memory of all former pupils of the school who served in World War 1.

The obelisk is formed from a 4.5m tall square pyramid column of granite. It stands on a square sandstone base set into a circular sandstone plinth, surrounded by pattern of red bricks inset into the pavers of the street.

At the top of the column, pointing out from each of the 4 corners, are the prows of 4 ships carved from white marble. Between the 4 prows, carved into stone discs set between stone torches on each face of the obelisk, are the words Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and France.

Above the white stone ships is a stone globe representing the world, set within a copper frame and topped with a gilt metal torch.

On the face of the column the names of more than 400 service personnel are engraved and highlighted in gold.

The war memorial was unveiled on 16 April 1921 by Sir Walter Davidson, Governor of NSW.