The Kiama Memorial Arch, a history

April 25th, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of the Kiama Memorial Arch and its unveiling by the Premier of NSW and Kiama local Sir George Fuller.

After the end of World War One, the citizens of Kiama wanted ‘a monument to perpetuate the memory of those killed in the war’. At a well-attended meeting held in the Town Hall in March 1924, several proposals were put forward, including building a hall for the soldiers on the drill hall site in Manning Street, and a water fountain at the local Surf Beach reserve. Mr R Halliwell suggested the planned Kiama Hospital be named the ‘Soldier's Memorial District Hospital’. This suggestion was seconded by Dr Frecker who said that ‘there could be no finer memorial, for a hospital did useful work, and would be a living memorial’. However, Colonel Colin Fuller proposed the construction of a memorial arch and improvements to Central Park (Hindmarsh Park). He said, ‘Kiama was very much in need of a park, for there was no suitable, safe place for children to play’.  

Colonel Fuller moved that the memorial take the form of a public monument which could be built in Central Park, on the corner of Terralong and Collins Streets. An added advantage to the location, as stated by Mr W Walker, is the arch would be ‘the first thing and the last for tourists to see as they entered and left the town’.

After much debate, the Kiama community agreed the arch and park would be a fitting and lasting tribute to honour the soldiers.

A committee was established to oversee the improvements to Central Park and the build of the memorial arch. The committee members were Kiama Mayor AIderman J Price, Colonel C Fuller, Dr Frecker, HW Crisp, NE Hindmarsh, J Pike, A McGuinness, W Walker, GR Chapman, MT Anderson, Ray Walker and Ben Leggatt. Mr J Cope was appointed secretary, Mr A Nicholson treasurer and Mr W Dawes assistant secretary.

In July 1924, architect Sir Charles Rosenthal visited Kiama to advise on the location and design of the arch, and Mr. W. G. Frazer, a builder from Sydney, constructed the arch using stone from Kiama quarries. The cost was £1040.

The Kiama Memorial Arch was officially unveiled on 25th April 1925 to the town by the Premier of NSW and Kiama local Sir George Fuller, who said, ‘when the stone had crumbled away the memory of the Anzacs would still be green’.

In a speech from AIderman W Cornford, he said, ‘the memorial arch should serve to remind the coming generations what had been handed down by their forefathers and would be a spot where old comrades could find names they knew and where they could all meet to celebrate Anzac Day’.

The Last Post was sounded by Seargent Bugler Horace Prott, and wreaths were laid by the Presbyterian Church, the staff and children of Kiama Public School and local community members and businesses. To conclude the ceremony, Sir Charles Rosenthal (architect) spoke briefly about his experience at the landing at Gallipoli, ‘stressing the fortitude of the boys who were to face death the night previous to the landing’. He added that the ‘laurel wreaths on the arch signified victory’.

The arch, originally built to commemorate those who served in World War I, now stands for all those who have served, with the Kiama/Jamberoo RSL sub-branch working to update the honour rolls on the War Memorial Arch to recognise the region’s servicemen and women who have been involved in more recent conflicts.

In 2015, significant work was undertaken by Kiama Council to preserve and restore the arch, and to stabilise the leaning foundations. Investigations identified that the arch was built on uncontrolled fill, and 17 micro piles up to 16 metres long were subsequently installed to prevent the arch from leaning any further. The total cost of the restoration project was $265,485, of which the state government contributed $30,000 and the federal government $16,500. 

Kiama Memorial Arch, date unknown, Geoff Honey Collection

Kiama Memorial Arch, 1925

Terralong Street, Kiama, 1940

Kiama Memorial Arch plans, Sir Charles Rosenthal and Day Architects, NSW State Archives

Kiama War Memorial, Anzac Day service