By Amy Shaw
Just, a few more, steps, to go, almost, there! Wow, just look at the amazing views! These were the views you would see if you had the courage to climb the 52 steps to the top of the Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance. It’s one of the most unusual war memorials in Melbourne and I’m here to tell you its remarkable journey from 1924 to today.
It all started when a local resident, Walter Wippell, suggested a war memorial park be established atop of Garden Hill. Then an idea was brought to the table. The idea of a memorial tower. The tower was to be built in the style of a Scottish watch-tower due to the early settlers in Kangaroo Ground, Scottish immigrants.
In 1924 the building began. The tower was to be built from local sandstone generously donated by Dr Ethel Osbourne. It was designed by architects Arthur Stephenson and Percy Meldrum. The builder of the tower was George Rousell of Mordialloc. After the building was finished the tower stood a bulky 16 meters tall, and 5 meters wide.
Two years after the building began the tower was opened. Many people gathered to see Lord Stonehaven, Governor General of Australia, unveil the tower on November 11th, 1926. The most exquisite war memorial in Melbourne was finally opened.
The tower stands atop of Garden Hill. It’s the highest hill for many miles around and stands a massive 237 meters above sea level. The hill is said to be an extinct volcano. Geologist E.A Webb said that two flows of lava once erupted from the volcano, but don’t worry it’s broken down into dirt now. The lava which once flowed from the volcano has enriched the soil around Garden Hill. The tower is said to be built in the crater of the volcano.
It was originally built to be a tower of remembrance for the Eltham soldiers that fell in the Great War. Plaques situated on the front of the tower list the names of the soldiers that fell in the Great War. Rosemary and a pine sapling from Gallipoli are planted around the base of the tower for remembrance.
I am proud to say that I am related to one of the soldiers on the plaques. He is my Great Great Uncle and his name is Edward Barret. He fought in the first few months of the Gallipoli campaign in World War One. He was shot in the chest but he was resilient and that did not kill him. Sadly though, he died a short while later due to an unrelated illness at the age of thirty-one much two the dismay of his wife and two young children.
In the mid 1940’s CFA members began to climb the tower to spot fires. They usually spot about 50 fires each summer. In the early 1960’s an attempt to make shelter, to protect the spotters from the heat of Australian summers was made, but it soon had to be dismantled due to constant wind damage. Many other shelters were added throughout the 1900’s but none were efficient enough to protect the spotters. The cabin that now stands atop of the tower was added in December 2009.
Between the two wars a world war one cannon stood alongside the tower. As soon as the Second World War began it was removed. 25 years later Sir Dallas Brooks unveiled a Second World War plaque that was added to the tower to honour the soldiers that fell in a war more terrible than the first.
On February 7th, 2008 Black Saturday occurred. Many people lost their homes and lives to the dreadful bush fires. The fire spotters atop of the tower that day helped considerably stopping many fires from becoming substantial in the Kilmore East area. See, it’s not only a tower for remembrance but it also takes a major part in keeping our community safe!
The tower is situated in the middle of a War Memorial Park. The park hosts seven windmill palms planted in the shape of the Southern Cross around the base of the tower. The park also contains a viewing deck, picnic facilities and the old caretaker’s cottage which once belonged to Tiny Carroll, the first caretaker of the park grounds.
If you stand on top of the tower you will see the panoramic views. If you look around you will see the north-east suburbs, the Dandenong and Kinglake Ranges, and I know it seems so far away, but you can also see Melbourne. On a clear day you can see the ships docking in Melbourne Port. Isn’t that amazing?
Today the tower is used as a public viewing deck and tourists travel many miles to come to visit the tower. The tower is still used as a war memorial and many people visit it every ANZAC Day. Lots of people just visit the tower to have fun, including me.
So therefore the Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance is an important part of our community. It honours our amazing soldiers, protects our community from fire danger and is a great place to look at the delightful views of Melbourne. I hope you will join me in thinking that the Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance is a commemorable part of Diamond Valley. Thank-you for listening.
Amy Shaw,
Grade 6 Historical Speeches
Yarrambat Primary School
Sept. 2014
This story was first published in “Fine Spirit and Pluck: World War One Stories from Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea” published by Yarra Plenty Regional Library, August 2016
Photo: Kev Howlett 11 November, 2016
Learn more about the Kangaroo Ground War Memorial Park
