Glenorie Roll of Honour
In 2021 Hornsby Shire Council was awarded a $10,000 Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) grant to support the conservation of the historic Glenorie Roll of Honour.
Unveiled by Mr William Thompson MLA on 23 November 1918, the memorial is a tapered sandstone pillar topped with a carved sandstone cannon. It is inscribed with an honour roll listing the names of 30 men who served in the First World War (1914–1918), eight of whom were killed in action or died of wounds. At the memorial’s unveiling, it was praised as having been ‘erected of local materials by local hands’ and ‘a credit to the little Hills community, its design, material, construction and cost being all confined to the district’. 1
Glenorie Roll of Honour in 2004. Photograph by Peter Booth, sourced from Hornsby Shire Recollects hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au.
In 1933, the Glenorie Memorial Hall was opened next to the Glenorie Roll of Honour, replacing an earlier School of Arts Hall, which had been on the same site. The memorial was then rededicated in 1985 with the addition of bronze honour roll plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War (1939–1945), the Indonesian Confrontation (1963–1966), and the Vietnam War (1962–1975). Also in 1985, the park in which the memorial is located was dedicated as the Wal Buckingham Memorial Garden, in honour of local veteran Walter Buckingham who served with the Merchant Navy in the First World War.
Glenorie Memorial Hall, NSW War Memorials Register, photographer unknown.
In 2020, Hornsby Shire Council developed a masterplan for the site and recognised the importance of undertaking conversation works to the Roll as part of their wider program of landscaping works. After seeking a quote from a heritage stone mason, Council applied for a CWMF grant to support the memorial’s restoration. Council commissioned heritage consultant Joy Singh to prepare a heritage and condition assessment report and schedule of repairs for the Roll. In April 2022, they engaged specialist contractor Aussie Stonemasons to undertake the physical works, based on Ms Singh’s documentation and following best practice principles and processes for conservation of outdoor monuments.
The works undertaken included the removal of plaques added to the sides of the pillar in 1985, application of biocide and general cleaning of the pillar, repairs to the stonework and repointing, painting of the metal rail, installation of new key stones at fixing points of the rail, new pebbles, repainting the text to improve legibility, installation of new plinths and feature paving. Council was successful in applying for a CWMF grant to contribute to the cost of the project. Following the conservation works, Council also installed new bronze plaques on the plinths, replacing those that were previously attached to the memorial itself.
With the assistance of the Community War Memorials Fund we were able to work alongside the Glenorie RSL sub-Branch to restore the Glenorie Roll of Honour back to its former glory. In addition to restoring a rare WWI memorial we were able to elevate plaques relating to different wars to stand alone with their own sandstone plinth. This was important in revealing the engraved names relating to WWI that were hidden by the plaques that were affixed in 1985. Replacing the original plaques with new bronze plaques provided the opportunity to correct the logos which had changed overtime. The logos now are representative of the correct time period in which the events took place. Guidance from our heritage specialist Joy Singh ensured we restored the obelisk with a light touch and historical sensitivity.
- Hornsby Shire Council, March 2023
The memorial was rededicated on 23 November 2022, marking 104 years since the unveiling. The ceremony was led by Reverend Bill Rosier OAM (Principal Chaplin RAN retd).
Wreath laying at the rededication ceremony. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2023.
Following the 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service held at the memorial, Graham Bruce, Honorary Secretary of the Glenorie RSL sub-Branch, expressed his appreciation for the project:
Glenorie is a small rural community with a deep sense of pride in our veterans and current serving ADF Personnel. Every year the Glenorie War Memorial is the focal point of both Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemoration services. The recent renovations funded in part by a grant from the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund have restored the memorial cenotaph to its original condition. Community comments have all embraced the work completed and very much appreciative of the funding provided. This was backed by over 400 attending the 2023 Dawn Service on Anzac Day.
As a returned RNZAF Veteran, (Desert Storm, The Liberation of Kuwait) memorials honouring our fallen always touch deep within my heart and seeing the numbers attending commemorative services each year increase, particularly the younger generations, we will not be forgotten.
We, as a community, thank the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund for the generous financial support in the restoration of the Glenorie WW1 Memorial Cenotaph and the enhancements commemorating those from our district that served in subsequent periods of conflict.
- Graham Bruce, Hon Secretary, Glenorie RSL sub-Branch
The Roll, Hall and park precinct are listed as heritage items in Hornsby Shire Council’s Local Environmental Plan, 2013.
The Community War Memorials Fund provides grants of up to $10,000 to support the repair, protection and conservation of community war memorials across the state. including specialist heritage advice and physical work.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Project photos
Before conservation works, showing plaques attached to pillar, square paving and previous colour of the metal rail. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2021.
After cleaning, removal of plaques from pillar and painting of metal rail. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2022.
Before conservation, showing rock border, pebbles and previous colour of the metal rail. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2021.
After conservation, showing rock border, new pebbles and painted metal rail. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2022.
After conservation, showing cobbles and new plinths before installation of new plaques. Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2022.
Full memorial after installation of new plaques on new plinths.Photograph courtesy of Hornsby Shire Council, 2022.
Following the 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service held at the memorial, Graham Bruce, Honorary Secretary of the Glenorie RSL sub-Branch, expressed his appreciation for the project:
Glenorie is a small rural community with a deep sense of pride in our veterans and current serving ADF Personnel. Every year the Glenorie War Memorial is the focal point of both Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemoration services. The recent renovations funded in part by a grant from the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund have restored the memorial cenotaph to its original condition. Community comments have all embraced the work completed and very much appreciative of the funding provided. This was backed by over 400 attending the 2023 Dawn Service on Anzac Day.
As a returned RNZAF Veteran, (Desert Storm, The Liberation of Kuwait) memorials honouring our fallen always touch deep within my heart and seeing the numbers attending commemorative services each year increase, particularly the younger generations, we will not be forgotten.
We, as a community, thank the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund for the generous financial support in the restoration of the Glenorie WW1 Memorial Cenotaph and the enhancements commemorating those from our district that served in subsequent periods of conflict.
- Graham Bruce, Hon Secretary, Glenorie RSL sub-Branch