OUR MILITARY HISTORY
ARTICLE FOR WEBSITES & TOURISM BOOKLET
Seymour's beautifully landscaped World War One Memorial Park is a tribute to the district's men and women who served. The park is located at the entrance to the Seymour District Memorial Hospital precinct on the corner of Callen and Bretonneux Streets.
In November 1927, after ten years of planning, Memorial Gates were unveiled at the entrance to the then Seymour Soldiers Memorial Hospital. The Gates were built by returned soldiers at a cost of £412 and list many of those from the district who served in WW1. The gates were moved in 1959 to the entrance of the new hospital, and then again in 1996 to their current location but over the years the Gates became badly degraded. In 2004 the RSL refurbished the names on the granite pillars, in 2012 the Gates were refurbished and in 2013 the lights were replicated and fitted in time for the Anzac Day dawn service.
Planning began later that year to upgrade the area surrounding the Gates and on Remembrance Day of 2016, the new WW1 Memorial Park was unveiled by Seymour RSL. The Gallipoli, Peace and RSL roses line the paths and the Australian and New Zealand flags proudly fly in honour of the ANZACS. In pride of place in front of the Gates is "Bluey", the statue of a World War One soldier, who stands atop a star-shaped memorial holding 10 glass panels. These panels detail the WW1 service of 50 of the district's men and women along with a history of the Seymour Hospital and RSL. Whilst some stories are sad, others are uplifting, and all make captivating and emotive reading. The panels include photos taken during service overseas, as well as images of personal war-time items, letters, etc. donated by local families.
Seymour's beautifully landscaped World War One Memorial Park is a tribute to the district's men and women who served. The park is located at the entrance to the Seymour District Memorial Hospital precinct on the corner of Callen and Bretonneux Streets.
In November 1927, after ten years of planning, Memorial Gates were unveiled at the entrance to the then Seymour Soldiers Memorial Hospital. The Gates were built by returned soldiers at a cost of £412 and list many of those from the district who served in WW1. The gates were moved in 1959 to the entrance of the new hospital, and then again in 1996 to their current location but over the years the Gates became badly degraded. In 2004 the RSL refurbished the names on the granite pillars, in 2012 the Gates were refurbished and in 2013 the lights were replicated and fitted in time for the Anzac Day dawn service.
Planning began later that year to upgrade the area surrounding the Gates and on Remembrance Day of 2016, the new WW1 Memorial Park was unveiled by Seymour RSL. The Gallipoli, Peace and RSL roses line the paths and the Australian and New Zealand flags proudly fly in honour of the ANZACS. In pride of place in front of the Gates is "Bluey", the statue of a World War One soldier, who stands atop a star-shaped memorial holding 10 glass panels. These panels detail the WW1 service of 50 of the district's men and women along with a history of the Seymour Hospital and RSL. Whilst some stories are sad, others are uplifting, and all make captivating and emotive reading. The panels include photos taken during service overseas, as well as images of personal war-time items, letters, etc. donated by local families.
Also on the site is a young Lone Pine tree, alongside which is a bronze plaque telling an evocative and moving story that we encourage visitors to read.
It is hoped that visitors will empathise with the images and stories on display, and be moved by the journeys they will take with Seymour's servicemen and women during the Great War. Anyone with an interest in Australia's military history is encouraged to visit the World War One Memorial Park at Seymour.
It is hoped that visitors will empathise with the images and stories on display, and be moved by the journeys they will take with Seymour's servicemen and women during the Great War. Anyone with an interest in Australia's military history is encouraged to visit the World War One Memorial Park at Seymour.
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