Canley Heights CenotaphPrint Page

The cenotaph commemorates those who have served in conflicts in which Australia has been involved. 

The sandstone cenotaph is faced with treated slabs of Balmoral red granite. On the apex is a bronze torch and flame. The whole sits on a two-stepped sandstone base with a galvanised steel post and chain fence. There are two steel flagpoles on both the north and south sides, and a 4 inch mortar on the south side. There are 6 stands supporting bronze plaques, inscribed on which are the names of members of the Canley Heights R.S.L. Sub-Branch who have died since 1979. 

The original memorial was erected in the Sydney suburb of St Johns Park in 1920 in memory of 11 residents who had given their lives in World War One. Situated in a park it also served as a drinking fountain during sporting fixtures and picnic days. When the location was developed to provide housing for the growing population of the area the monument was removed to the Fairfield Council yard and sat neglected for a number of years. The Canley Heights RSL Sub-Branch was formed in 1964 and in 1972 received permission to move the St Johns Park memorial to their premises in Wakeley.

In 2001 the memorial was refurbished. The white paint that covered it was removed and it was sanded down to the original sandstone and slabs of Balmoral granite from quarries at Gosford were added. The troughs for the drinking fountains were removed and the lower section remodelled. The cost of the refurbishment was $26,000, most of which was raised by donations over a period of 14 months. The renamed Cenotaph was officially opened by the RSL State President, Mr Rusty Priest, on 25 April 2001. The names of the 11 St Johns Park fallen were added in 2003.
 

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