The Gallipoli Fountain of Honour

Arthur Burke

Dwarfed by the Roma Street station towers and innocuous behind the grime encrusted cement facade and untidy surrounding hedge, Brisbane's Gallipoli Fountain of Honour gushed away in almost insignificant oblivion. The plight of what had obviously once been a fine tribute to the ANZACs was brought to the attention of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (ADCC)'s Executive Committee early last year by a letter to the editor of The Courier-Mail.

Amazing as it might seem, not one of the Executive members had any knowledge of how, when, exactly where or why this memorial was commissioned; nor did they know who was responsible for its maintenance. Subsequent research by Honorary Secretary Arthur Burke unveiled a fascinating story.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of that fateful landing on 25 April 1915, a member of the Gallipoli Legion of ANZACs, Harold Baker proposed the construction of a memorial that would be dedicated on ANZAC Day 1965. Under the patronage of Premier Frank (later Sir Francis) Nicklin MLA, the Gallipoli Jubilee Remembrance Committee was formed on 26 August 1963 to bring this objective to fruition. Major General J.H. Cannan (a former Queensland President of the RSL) was appointed chairman and Mr Baker became the treasurer.

The initial concept was to include this memorial as part of the planned redevelopment of ANZAC Square. When it was agreed that a fountain was a practical and aesthetic tribute, the name was changed to the Gallipoli Fountain of Honour Committee. Sadly, the Square's facelift was abandoned, estimates on another site doubled the project cost and this opportunity for a 50th anniversary memorial lapsed.

Without fiscal support the project could not progress. Thus began a plethora of paperwork for the Committee as it launched requests for funds at the Federal and local governments and the corporate and community sectors to supplement the State Government's original promise of $44,000. The results were less than promising as the attraction of a 50th anniversary tribute was no longer available. Interest in the project began to wane.

In 1970 a new catalyst appeared from an unexpected quarter. The Australian representative on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Mr Ian Allen returned from a trip to Gallipoli and presented the Committee with a large rock and some pebbles from ANZAC Cove. During his trips over the next two years, Mr Allen also delivered flora from the Gallipoli Peninsula: seedlings from the Lone Pine area, olive grove seeds, sage and holly bush. Until such time as the memorial area was ready to be graced by this ANZAC vegetation, the Brisbane City Council staff at the Botanic Gardens in Alice Street accepted the task of nurturing the plants.

So enthused, the Committee renewed its quest for a memorial fountain and before General Cannan resigned due to ill health in 1975, he had persuaded the then Premier Joh (later Sir Joh) Bjelke-Petersen MLA to donate the State owned 'Railway Gardens' site in Roma Street for the Fountain of Honour. Surveyors, architects and engineers were then engaged to produce a costed feasibility study.

Finance promised by the Patriotic Fund of Queensland, the Government of Malaysia, the Bank of New South Wales and an additional $15,000 from the State Government allowed tenders to be called in December 1977. Watkins Limited were awarded a $94,400 contract and the target for completion was ANZAC Day 1978.

Under grey and sullen skies on the morning of 1 March 1978, Premier Bjelke-Petersen had just officially turned on the Gallipoli Fountain of Honour when the heavens opened and heavy rain sent many of the guests and spectators to cover. Stoically, however, the Gallipoli veterans, Minister for Defence The Honourable D.J. (later Sir James) Killen MP and other stalwarts remained steadfast and were drenched as Mr A.J. Campbell CMG, chairman of the Committee delivered his address from under an umbrella.

By contrast, spirits could not have been higher in the Officers' Mess at Victoria Barracks soon afterwards when, by invitation of Minister Killen, refreshments were taken to celebrate the culmination of 15 years of dedication by the Gallipoli Fountain of Honour Committee. Sadly, patron Sir Francis Nicklin was not in good health in 1978 and was unable to attend this dedication.

Though by 1978 the ANZAC seedlings in the Botanic Gardens had become a Gallipoli Lone Pine plot which could not be transplanted, the rock and pebbles were incarcerated beneath the fountain and the huge Rising Sun badges provided by the Gallipoli Legion of ANZACs emblazoned the corrugated concrete walls of the park. Before 25 April each year, contractors engaged by Queensland Rail rejuvenate the grey facade of the memorial whilst maintenance staff cut, trim and prune the surrounding lawn and hedges.

When next you pass Roma Street Station heading into town, look for the words 'Gallipoli Place' on the concrete ramparts to the eastern side of the buildings and spare a couple of minutes to visit this unique tribute to the original ANZACs.

ADCC Secretary Arthur Burke was able to piece together this story from records in the John Oxley Library of the Gallipoli Fountain of Honour Committee (Minute Book 8/63 to 11/79 - QM.FQ/1/1) and microfilm copies of The Courier-Mail (Thursday 2/3/78).