Winchelsea’s stately and enduring ‘living’ war memorial is set for a new era.
Eastern Reserve’s Winchelsea and District Soldiers’ Memorial 1914-1918 grandstand has undergone a $103,945 upgrade, providing more functional clubroom space for the town’s RSL sub-branch.
Members have called grandstand rooms home for more than a century, after having built the functional community memorial with the support of the former Winchelsea Shire Council. It is one of few ‘living’ war memorials in Victoria.
The building is heritage-listed and architecturally significant, considered to be the most substantial public building in Australia built using the knitlock construction method designed and patented by architect Walter Burley Griffin in 1917.
Upgrading has included:
- Expansion of library, museum and work space.
- Installation of a doorway opening connecting rooms.
- Construction of a new entry ramp, increasing accessibility to the building.
- Installation of downlighting highlighting the building façade.
- Repairs to windows and doors, and
- Internal and external painting.
The project has been jointly funded, with contributions of:
- $49,728 from the Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing via the Victorian Veterans Capital Works Program 2023-2024.
- $10,000 in-kind contribution from Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch.
- $37,487 from Surf Coast Shire Council.
- $6,730 from the Eastern Reserve Community Asset Committee.
Community members joined sub-branch members and project partners for formal opening of the project and dedication of the rooms on 14 November.
Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman: “Through the Veterans Capital Works Program, we’re proud to support the upgrade of the Winchelsea Soldiers Memorial, preserving an important place of remembrance for veterans and the community.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney: “Winchelsea has such a proud and long-standing history of honouring service, and this heritage-listed site has been at the heart of that story for over 100 years.
“These upgrades mean veterans, their families and the whole community now have a safer, more accessible and truly welcoming place to gather, reflect and remember.”
Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch president Graham Kenafacke: “We thank the Victorian Government, Surf Coast Shire Council and Eastern Reserve Community Asset Committee for having partnered our sub-branch in this project.
“Having occupied the memorial grandstand as a sub-branch unbroken for more than a century, we are very proud to have completed an upgrade which will greatly support our administrative, commemorative and fund-raising work into the future.
“Extension of the rooms gives us more space for displays, and we are passionate about our role in keeping our service history alive for our community.
“And this work has been a long time in the making. Creating an opening through our dividing wall has been discussed by members for well over a decade, and now it has finally happened!”
Cr Adrian Schonfelder: “We congratulate Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch members on completion of this significant project and acknowledge the profound work they have done over many decades supporting people in our community, and helping people to connect with and commemorate our district’s distinguished service history.
“This upgrade will help ensure that continues, through ceremonies, education and ongoing research, which all happens alongside any welfare work the sub-branch might be called upon to support.
“It is wonderful to see use of this important community building being enhanced, and we thank the Victorian Government for its support.”
Winchelsea RSL Sub-Branch has operated without a break since formation in 1919.
The sub-branch rooms include displays of local and regional service information and artefacts, and a small library.
