The Malmsbury War Memorial gates are set to be restored to their former glory, helping to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict.
On Wednesday, April 16, the state government announced that the Friends of Malmsbury Gardens and Environs group was one of those selected to receive a war memorial restoration grant.
The group will receive funding to restore the heritage-listed Malmsbury War Memorial gates and adjoining railing, with the gate acting as an entrance to the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.
Built in 1922 in tribute to those who enlisted in World War I, the soldiers’ names will be regilded, old paint and rust will be removed, and restoration works will be performed on the memorial railings and gate.
Friends of Malmsbury Gardens and Environs secretary Paula Needham said part of the grant will be used to cover the expensive prices of gold for the regilding process.
“As far as I can remember and even further back, there’s always been tributes left at that memorial. It’s become symbolic of the loss of life of people who have gone and not returned from subsequent conflicts,” Ms Needham said.
“There are families that are still in town whose names are on the plate – their forebears are there.”
Ms Needham said the restoration process is quite complex, with laser cleaning tests to be for treating the rust.
She said that the entire memorial includes the adjoining railing, which extends from a post at the corner of the Malmsbury Town Hall to another adjacent to Mollison Street.
The pillars of the monument are made from bluestone with a lintel of Harcourt granite.
The original stonework of the gate was completed by Mr WT Jones and Son, with WT Jones Stonemasons still operating on Piper Street in Kyneton.
