war memorial Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Destination's Journey

7 May 20223 May 2022

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Established in 1833, Goulburn New South Wales is 195 km south-west of Sydney and 90 km north-east of Canberra. It was declared Australia’s first inland city in 1863.

To get to Goulburn, you can travel by train on NSW CountryLink services or by coach. It is approximately two hour’s drive from Sydney. We drove from Mittagong, as part of a larger road trip to Newnes Industrial Ruins in the Wollemi National Park via Orange and Bathurst.

We were only in Goulburn for one day, before heading off to Wombeyan Caves. However, we saw some great sights while there.

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

This impressive tower and museum overlook the town and is a must see when visiting. For more information, see our full story here.

Weapons on Display Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum — Rocky Hill War Memorial

Goulburn Historic Water Works

This beautifully restored pump house still contains the original pumps from its operating days. For the full story of our visit, click here.

Big Marino

The Big Marino is hard to miss as you drive through tow, Click here for our visit.

Interesting Buildings in Goulburn

Elmslea Chambers

Located in Montague St in the centre of town Elmslea Chambers has its façade beautifully decorated. Built in 1933, it was one of the first buildings in Australia to use coloured polychrome terracotta in its façade which features birds, flowers, leaves and Art Deco sunbursts under the windows.

Although worth visiting the street just for this building, it’s also the location of the historic Fire station and not far from Cathedral Church of St Saviour.

Elmslea Chambers 17 Montague St Goulburn

Fire Station

Only a few doors down from Elmslea Chambers and also in Montague street, the historic Fire Station and the building next to it are interesting to see because of their interesting architecture.

Goulburn Courthouse

At the far end of Montague Street and opposite Belmore Park, the courthouse is a large, beautiful building. Built in 1887 in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet it is still an operating court.

Railway Station

Completed in 1869, the Railway Station is another beautiful building in Goulburn.

Cathedral Church of St Saviour

Bourke Street has several beautiful churches including the Cathedral Church of St Saviour. Designed by Edmund Blacket, it was completed in 1884.

Unfortunately the other large church, St Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral was undergoing a major restoration and was covered in scaffolding.

Belmore Park

St. John’s Orphanage

Destroyed in a suspicious fire, the St. John’s Orphanage in Mundy Street caught our eye because of its sinister appearance. Access is not permuted with the whole area sealed off, so we could only view it from the street.

What Did We Think?

Goulbourn was only a quick stop for us, but we enjoyed it and would like to spend more time here. The history and old buildings were great to see, especially the Water Works and War Memorial.

25 January 20225 January 2022

Catalina War Memorial Rathmines

Catalina War Memorial Rathmines

Once an air base in World War Two, little remains of RAAF Rathmines apart from some re-purposed buildings and a war memorial dedicated to the crews of Catalina flying boats based here. The beaching ramp where the Catalinas were brought ashore is now a boat launching ramp. Behind the memorial, the bowling club was once the officers’ mess.

History

Formed in 1939, the RAAF Station at Rathmines became one of the major flying boat bases for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during World War II, and housed Nos 9, 11, 20, 40,41, 43 and 107 Squadrons at various stages during the war. Used as a training base after World War 2 it was closed and then sold in the early 1960s.

The Memorial

The area where the memorial stands was the site of the Commanding Officer`s residence and control tower. Built in 1972 and dedicated to all RAAF personnel who served on flying boats at Rathmines a Catalina propeller sits on top of the memorial. Walls on both sides commemorate those who died or served for their country and had passed through the base at Rathmines. Reading the names, we saw how young some of them were.

Club Catalina

Now a bowling club, Club Catalina was once the officer’s mess for the RAAF base. Unfortunately closed during our visit, the club contains a memorial wall commemorating and honouring RAAF personnel who operated and trained at the base during its service years.

What Did We Think?

Very easy to find with plenty of parking, we loved the history of the area as well as the views over the lake.

Wall of Remembrance Catalina War Memorial — The Catalina War Memorial

14 June 20211 July 2021

Legerwood Memorial Trees

Created to honour fallen soldiers in World War One, the Legerwood Memorial Trees are a brilliant way to ensure their legacy remains remembered.

Following the end of World War One, many towns and cities in Australia chose to honour their fallen soldiers by planting trees to form avenues of remembrance. Planted during elaborate ceremonies, the families of dead soldiers placed trees as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of their loved ones.

However, with time, the trees aged and became a hazard to people passing by. The thought of removing them and losing a link to the past was too much for the local community, so they came up with a unique solution. They engaged chainsaw artist Eddie Freeman to transform the trees into permanent memorials. Using historical photos of the soldiers, he sculpted the trees into wonderful artworks.

Not only do the sculptures show soldiers, but also depicts them in their civilian jobs, or with wives and fiancés. There are nine trees, in the park. They represent the seven men from the town killed in the conflict, one to remember the ANZACS and one to remember the sacrifice made at Gallipoli.

There is a plaque giving the history of the men at the base of each tree.

Getting There

Located just over an hour from Launceston along the Tasman Highway, Legerwood is easy to get to. Marked, appropriately by a sculpture, the turn-off is hard to miss. On street parking is available in the park, which also has toilet facilities and a barbeque area.

The Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

We spent a lot of time walking around the memorials, reading the histories of the soldiers. The sculptures are great and it was wonderful that the artist used photos of the men to create each piece of art, because each one looks individual.

Legerwood Memorial Trees — Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

A soldier on the Beach at Gallipoli Carrying an Ammunition Box and Billy Can Legerwood Memorial Trees — Legerwood Carved Memorial Trees

What Did We Think?

This was a great stop and a wonderful way to remember those who fought and died in the First World War. We loved walking around reading the men’s histories and admiring the sculptures.

To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

Our photos are available for purchase on

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Tag: war memorial

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Goulburn New South Wales Australia

Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

Goulburn Historic Water Works

Big Marino