Ballarat Public Art Walk (War History)
With more than 120 artworks to its name, Ballarat is home to one of Australia's largest and most significant regional public art collections. This is one of four public art walks highlighting the City of Ballarat's Public Art Collection. This public art walk has a war history theme.
Location of Artwork
1. Boer War Memorial by James White (1906)
The Boer War Memorial was created by sculptor James White in honour of Australian Soldiers who fought in the South African War (1899-1902). White used the electrolytic copper deposit method to produce this large statue, which is sometimes mistaken for a cast bronze work. The Foundation stone was laid on 18 May 1901 by H.R.H The Duke of York (George V). The sculpture was unveiled on 1 November 1906 by His Excellency Baron Northcote G.C.I.E., C.B. Governor General of Australia and then Mayor of Ballarat, J. J. Brokenshire. Bravery and mateship are beautifully captured in depiction of a scene taken straight from the battlegrounds. Today the memorial is a much-photographed homage and is of historical and aesthetic
significance to Ballarat.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
2. William Dunstan VC Memorial (1995)
The Dunstan Memorial is a minimal form of rough-cut bluestone and sheet granite in memory of Ballarat born soldier, William Dunstan, who served with honour in Gallipoli. His unit successfully defended a post despite being seriously wounded. He and one mate were the only survivors of the 10 men defending the trench and all were awarded the Victoria Cross. Following the war Dunstan worked as manager and director of the Herald and Weekly Times.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
3. Harold Pompey Elliott by Louis Laumen (2011)
Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliot was first and foremost a soldier. Schooled in Ballarat, he spoke often of his love of battle, and the sheer beauty of the fighting troops. This contemporary bronze sculpture has detailed elements of the uniform and posture of the military of the time and stance of a man sure of his own strength and willing to command in the harshest of conditions. Signed by the artist along the sword scabbard. Stamp of foundry marking on the boot edging. The four plaques surround the sculpture and plinth detail part of the story of the Major-General and Senator.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
4. Albert Coates by Louis Laumen (2012)
Leading surgeon and academic Sir Albert Coates was one of Ballarat's most celebrated sons. A medical orderly during WWI, he returned home to become a pioneering neurosurgeon. A medical man in the worst of circumstances, Coates is often mentioned for his compassion and care in his role as a doctor in the Burma-Siam Railway POW camps. The bronze statue by Louis Lauman captures his down-to-earth nature. Laumen is a Melbourne sculptor who has completed many commissioned bronze public artworks around Australia.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
5. Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam (2000)
'Lest We Forget' is a contemporary and crisp treatment, marking the sacrifices of Australian forces involved in the conflicts of South East Asia, including the Korean War 1950-53, the Malayan Emergency 1950-60, the Borneo Uprising 1962-64 and the Vietnam War 1962-72. A plaque was added in 2006 by the Victorian Vietnam Veterans Community in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
6. Eternal Flame by Peter Blizzard (1995)
Eternal Flame was created by renowned Ballarat sculptor Peter Blizzard as a marker of the end of WWII in the Pacific. Engraved into the bluestone shaped tile across the base of the statue is details about conflict areas where Australian Troops were active. The metal structure mimics a moving flame with it's polished golden hue, a feature included in many war memorials around the world. Peter Blizzard also designed the Prisoner of War Memorial in the South Gardens, Ballarat Botanic Gardens.
Location: Sturt St - Between Lyons St and Dawson St, Ballarat
7. WWI Cenotaph (1949)
The Ballarat Cenotaph commemorates those who died in service or were killed in action in WWI and WWII. The cenotaph was unveiled by the Governor, Sir Dallas Brooks on the 24th November 1949 in front of a crowd estimated to be between 3000 and 4000 people. It was made possible through donations bolstered by an ANZAC Day radio appeal.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
8. George Treloar Memorial by Lis Johnson (2019)
This depiction of Major George Devine Treloar by artist Lis Johnson was commissioned by the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee an initiative of Merimna Kynon of Oceania, Central Portian Pontion Association of Melbourne and Victoria Pontiaki Estiaa and the City of Ballarat. Treloar was appointed as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in Greece in 1922 where he worked to provide food, aid and comfort to what would eventually total over 100,000 refugees from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. This memorial grew from the desire of the descendants of refugees to honour his memory and his humanitarian work.
Location: Sturt Street, Ballarat
9. National Ex-POW Memorial by Peter Blizzard (2004)
This memorial to Australian Prisoners of War is dedicated to more than 36,000 Australian men and women who were held captive as prisoners by the enemy during the Boer War, World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean War. This memorial honours them.
Water springs from beneath the 'Lest We Forget' stone then flows down the wall into the narrow watercourse in front of the first group of names and into the reflective pool, then continues past the second group of names. Finally it disappears under the pathway, returning to its source under the 'Lest We Forget' stone to start the journey again.
Water symbolizes the essential nature of man, sacrifice, suffering, spirituality, healing, cleansing, birth and re-birth. In this memorial it forms a continuous cycle, binding all Australian Prisoners of War together for all time.
The memorial is created from natural materials and is designed to be in harmony with the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, and to create a sense of timeless, dignity and respect.
Location: South Gardens, Lake Wendouree
10. Arch of Victory (1920)
A grand cement rendered masonry structure of a single central arch flanked by wide piers 20 metres in width, spanning the roadway, and 18metres high. Crowned by the 'Rising Sun' symbol of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces beneath which the words Avenue of Honour and Victory are written prominently across the arch.
The Arch marks the beginning of a 22 kilometre stretch of 3728 trees, each one a memorial to men and women in order of enlistment for World War 1. On 2 June 1920, the Prince of Wales opened the Arch and was presented with a pair of silk pyjamas embroidered with Australian emblems. Each of the 500 'Lucas Girls' had put in a stitch.
Location: Sturt Street/Avenue of Honour
11. Garden of the Grieving Mother by Peter Corlett (2017)
The Garden of the Grieving Mother is an acknowledgement of the trauma, grief and anxiety felt by the families of Australian servicemen and women. Of the 3,801 WWI service men and women commemorated in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, 1 in 5 made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives. At the centre of the memorial space is a bronze sculpture of a mother clutching a photograph of her son by sculptor Peter Corlett who has created many war memorial public artworks. The memorial was unveiled on 15 February 2017 by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Mrs Kaye Baird, mother of posthumous Victoria Cross recipient, Corporal Cameron Baird.
Location: Learmonth Street, Sturt Street
Location
Sturt Street and Dawson Street South, Ballarat 3350 Map
Web Links
→ War History Ballarat Public Art Walk Brochure (PDF)
