Thames War Memorial Monument Restoration

  • Project typeHeritage

Thames War Memorial Monument with lights being tested

The war memorial in Thames is unmissable: it towers on a hill overlooking town and is a prominent reminder of the sacrifices made by our nation's World War I generation.

The monument was originally unveiled on Anzac Day in 1925 and commemorates those from the Thames area who were killed in the Great War.

Thanks in part to a Lotteries grant of $59,990, the memorial was restored in 2016 after cracking in the plaster surface was discovered.

This restoration was completed by 11 November 2016, the 98th anniversary of Armistice Day.

Lighting was installed in time for Anzac Day 2017, so now the monument can be picked out in appropriate colours at different times of the year.

Next Steps

Following these repairs the Thames Community Board prioritised a master planning exercise to look at a complete refurbishment of the site including improved access, remediation of current retaining walls and refreshing the landscaping.
A concept plan was developed by local Landscape Architect Kerstie van Zandvoort in consultation with community and the RSA.

Budget of $1.044 million has been earmarked under the 2021-31 Long Term Plan (see page 50) for improvements to the site to make it more accessible to people with mobility issues and to landscape the grounds.

Thames War Memorial covered in scaffolding

(Drone photograph of Thames War Memorial taken by Kester Bradwell, contact at info@camerashy.co.nz)

 

Location

111 Monument Road, Thames   View Map

Google Map

Contact details

Customer Services
customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz
Back to top