Balingup War Memorial Clock

Statement of Significance

Balingup War Memorial was built to honour those residents of the town and surrounding area who served in the two World Wars in 1914-18 and in 1939-45, and who died in service. Balingup War Memorial has aesthetic value for its form and materials and is located in an attractive garden sited in a prominent position at the side of the main road of the town. It is highly valued by the local community, many of whom are related to those commemorated. It illustrates the enormous human sacrifice made by the small regional communities and commemorates the renowned fighting spirit of the Anzacs.

Physical Description

Balingup War Memorial is a stepped brick clock tower about 2.5 metres high, set on a stepped painted plinth within an area of paving. The paving is surrounded by a low evergreen hedge and the tower is set towards the back and is flanked by pines and has a backdrop of pencil pines. The clock is set into the apex of the tower. The memorial is located on the main street of the town near a prominent junction.
A bronze plaque on the front of the tower is dedicated "to those who served."

History

Post-World War II (1939-45), the Balingup branch of the Returned Services League (R.S.L.) formed a War Memorial Committee to work towards erecting a memorial to citizens of the district who had served in the war. In late 1950, the State Housing Commission granted permission to erect the proposed memorial, which was to be ‘of brick construction, surmounted by a clock’ (West Australian 9 Dec. 1950). There was some debate in the community about the suitability of a memorial in this form. The women’s auxiliary of the local R.S.L. considered ‘a swimming pool with bordering land grassed and made into a park and playground for children would be a more fitting and lasting memorial’, and more widely supported than that proposed by the War Memorial Committee (West Australian 21 Dec. 1950). They requested a door to door petition to ascertain the views of local residents including many who had come to settle in the district since the Committee was formed. Balingup War Memorial, a red brick tower style memorial, surmounted by a clock, was duly erected. Three bronze plaques were affixed to the memorial, inscribed as follows: ‘To Those Who Served’; ‘Died on Service 1914 to 1918’, recording 34 names; and Died on Service 1939 to 1945’, recording 14 names. Thereafter Balingup War Memorial was the venue for ANZAC Day services in the district.
Balingup War Memorial had been ‘unwittingly’ erected on part of the railway reserve. This was pointed out to Ross Hutchinson, M.L.A., Minister for Works, when he came to Balingup to open the water supply in December 1965. He took the matter in hand and the R.S.L. was granted a lease of the site at a peppercorn rental. By the late 1970s, the Balingup Sub-Branch of the R.S.L. had ceased to exist; the clock no longer functioned and has remained un-working. In 2012, Balingup War Memorial continues to be highly valued by the local community and it is well maintained.

Integrity/Authenticity

High

Condition

Good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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