Busselton War Memorial

Council resolved at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 14 May 2025 the following:

Council decision 2504/117

That the Council:

• Allocates $25,000 in the 25/26 budget for the purpose of Master Planning Victoria Square. The CEO shall provide City infrastructure parameters required to be observed and thereafter, advertise for public input/ideas as to what could/should occur for the Square including views on the Memorial Wall (ie stay, go, relocate).
• The project shall reinforce from the outset the existing cenotaph War Memorial remain (refer C2410/276*) and together with the theme of celebration and remembrance of sacrifice, be the primary focus/feature of Victoria Square and its future form.
• The ballpark costed outcome option/s for the draft master plan shall return to the Council prior to the end of February 2026 for consideration of future implementation funding.

*Resolution of Council to have the Cenotaph Category 1 Heritage Listed.

Further to the Council decision, the City will work with the RSL and those with personal connections to the memorial in the development of the master plan, as well as consulting the wider community.

There has been no suggestion of moving the cenotaph. The cenotaph will be a primary focus/feature of Victoria Square in any master plan developed.

The new Busselton War Memorial was officially opened and consecrated on 22 April 2024.

The project was initiated in 2016 and led by the Returned Services League (RSL) Busselton Sub Branch and RSL WA in collaboration with the City of Busselton. It was funded by the City and a significant grant from the “Saluting Their Service” Commemorative Grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Through extensive public consultation and engagement in 2022 and 2023, input was received and considered from community members and community groups, including the Rotary Club of Busselton Geographe Bay, Busselton Historical Society and Karri Karrak Aboriginal Corporation.

The Busselton War Memorial has been designed to be a visually striking tribute, paying homage to past and present servicemen and women, as well as providing a space for peaceful reflection.

A ‘sword’ shaped walkway leads visitors to the War Memorial Monument which features a carved wreath of Wattle flowers and Eucalypt leaves. Representing the Australian Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force, four granite Sentinels from the Capes region surround the War Memorial.

Two Honour walls sit either side of the monument, listing the servicemen who died from World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

Along the walkway there are bronze plaques with the names of 180 Busselton serviceman and women from World War I.

The War Memorial will be home to ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services, along with other important services coordinated by the Busselton RSL.

Earthworks have commenced in Rotary Park. The contractor is preparing the sand pads for the footpaths, cenotaph, sentinels and podium. The Cenotaph artwork has been sand blasted into the granite and is being sculpted. Australian Defence Force, Army, Navy and Air Force military insignias have been sandblasted onto the sentinels and Park of Remembrance entry sentinel has been sand blasted.

Concrete works to commence within 2 weeks.

Pictured is the Australian Defence Force insignia sand blasted onto a sentinel which is one of four surrounding the War Memorial plinth.

Due to Stage 2 of the Lower Vasse River sediment removal project, access to the site for the new Busselton War Memorial (Rotary Park) will be restricted until October 2023. Construction can commence on the new War Memorial once the dewatered sediment has been removed from site. In the meantime, Officers have been working behind the scenes to finalise designs.

If you have a relative who lived locally and died serving overseas, you can submit their details. Your information will be reviewed by the Busselton RSL, who will compare the information to their records. Alternatively, you can find more information about Australian service men and women via the Australian War Memorial website.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Busselton War Memorial survey - we had 90 submissions. At the Council meeting on the 15 March 2023, Council endorsed Concept 2 as the preferred concept design and resolved to proceed with the construction of a new War Memorial at Rotary Park while retaining the existing cenotaph in Victoria Square. You can read the minutes here - Minutes of Council - Wednesday, 15 March 2023 (busselton.wa.gov.au)

Further project updates will be included on this project page as they arise.