Upgrade for Winchelsea’s living memorial

Winchelsea and District Soldiers Memorial 1914-1918 grandstand. Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch president Graham Kenafacke.jpg

Winchelsea's ‘living’ war memorial is set for a new era following a $103,945 upgrade.

The Eastern Reserve grandstand was opened in 1925 as Winchelsea and District Soldiers’ Memorial 1914-1918 following collaboration between the town’s RSL Sub-Branch and then Winchelsea Shire Council.

It has provided clubroom space for sub-branch members for more than 100 years, now sensitive and functional improvements to the heritage-listed building will support their commemorative and welfare work.

Community members and project supporters will celebrate completion of the upgrade project at an opening ceremony at 2pm on 14 November.

Improvements have included:

  • Expansion of library, museum and work spaces.
  • Installation of a doorway between two rooms.
  • Construction of a new entry ramp.
  • Installation of downlighting highlighting the building façade.
  • Repairs to windows and doors, and
  • Internal and external painting.

President Graham Kenafacke (pictured) said the improvements would mean a lot to the sub-branch members.

Keeping history alive

“We are a bit limited by space but it will be a lot more user-friendly and we will be able to display what we have in a far better way, and be more functional for meetings,” Mr Kenafacke said.

“Really for us now our main focus is commemoration, and supporting fund-raising for the major funds – Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Legacy.

“And we try and reconnect the past with the future and remind residents of the history from the time of major wars. People can come and reconnect and we can help them with family research.

“We’ve got to keep the history alive.”

The project has been jointly funded, with a contribution of $49,728 from the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing via the Victorian Veterans Capital Works Program 2023-2024, a $10,000 in-kind contribution from the RSL sub-branch, $37,487 from Council, and $6,730 from the Eastern Reserve Community Asset Committee.

Winchelsea and District Soldiers Memorial 1914-1918 grandstand.jpg

Knitlock construction

The grandstand was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2005 and is thought to be the most substantial public building in Australia built using the nationally significant ‘knitlock’ construction method designed and patented by architect Walter Burley Griffin in 1917.

Winchelsea district’s proud service history is also commemorated by memorial cairns in the town centre, and Mr Kenafacke said the sub-branch was embarking on a project to honour all of the service people interred at the town cemetery.

“We haven’t finished that audit yet, but we are up to 80 so far. That just staggers me,” Mr Kenafacke said.

Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch members will lead a Remembrance Day service at the town’s cairns from 10.40am on 11 November.

Find details of other Remembrance Day services across the shire

Back to top