ACT National Boer War Memorial Committee member Ian Ball is calling on Council to relocate Queanbeyan's 109-year-old Boer War monument from its current location on Lowe Street to Town Park. Photo: Andrew Johnston
QUEANBEYAN City Council is being called upon to relocate the city's Boer War Memorial in the lead-up to Queanbeyan's first official commemoration of one of Australia's bloodiest military ventures.
The ACT National Boer War Memorial Committee is urging council to consider moving the Lowe Street monument to the leafy surrounds of nearby Queanbeyan Town Park.
The calls come as Queanbeyan is set to host its first ever commemoration of the conflict, coinciding with National Boer War Day on May 31.
The roughly four-metre tall memorial currently stands astride the Lowe Street median strip and Boer War Memorial Committee member Ian Ball said the location was somewhat incongruous.
"One of the problems here in Queanbeyan is that the memorial is located on the median strip in the middle of Lowe Street which is obviously not ideal for hosting a commemoration or service," he said.
"We'd like to find a spot for it in Town Park where it isn't going to be in the way or block access for anyone, but where it can be accessible and have enough space around it to be useful.
"Everyone I have spoken to seems to be very supportive of the idea, it's just a matter of when it can be done and where it can be relocated to. Ultimately it's Council's call as they are the ones responsible for [Town Park]."
The Boer War was fought between the British colonies including Australia and the Dutch-Afrikaner settlers of modern day South Africa at the turn of the 20th century.
The conflict cost the lives of more than 600 Australian soldiers, including five from the Queanbeyan region.
"There's quite a connection between Queanbeyan and the Boer War," Ball said. "There were about 70 men from this district who served which was a considerable number from what was quite a small community at the time."
Riverside Cemetery also contains the grave of James Henry Swan, one of the few Australian soldiers killed in the conflict to be buried back home.
Queanbeyan's Boer War Memorial was originally erected in 1903 at the intersection of Crawford Street and Monaro Street before eventually being moved to its current Lowe Street location.
Ball said he had so far received in principle support for relocating the memorial from Federal Member for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly, Member for Monaro John Barilaro and Queanbeyan mayor Tim Overall.
When approached for comment however, council remained largely noncommittal about any future plans for the location of the memorial.
"Queanbeyan Council is currently preparing a Conservation Management Plan for the Queanbeyan Park and is reviewing the Lowe Street area in line with CBD improvements," a council spokesperson said.
"Council has not formed a position on the future of the Boer War Memorial, or this important recreational and cultural precinct, which is also known to many as Town Park.
"A report will go to Council in relation to the precinct later this year."