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The Great War :  The Citizens' Memorial Statue - Victory Unveiling of the Citizens' Memorial at Footscray Park 1922 The memorial restored November 2003 Larger photograph of the memorial

Description: The Memorial has a two stepped Harcourt grey granite base. Four turned polished granite columns with canopy over, are surmounted by the white Cararra marble statue of "Victory". The figure stands 6ft.3ins to the crown of the head and about 8 ft overall to the top of the palm branch held in the left hand. It is modeled on the lines of an early Roman woman in the garb of the period. The head is encircled by a laurel wreath. The up raised hand holds a palm branch and the right hand supports a bronze miniature figure of Victory. A square column under the canopy holds the inscription. The pedestal portion stands 14ft.3ins. The overall height of pedestal and statue is 22 ft.

THE CITIZENS' WAR MEMORIAL (Extracts from a research report by Mrs. Esma Green, City of Footscray Historical Society, 29th August, 1988.) Location: Footscray Park, Ballarat Road. (Mel.Ref. Map 42, D3); in the park on lawn between Jamieson Avenue and Ballarat Road (enter from Moore St. gates). The previous location was inside main gates, Footscray Park, Cnr. Nicholson St. and Ballarat Rd. Statue was relocated at the time of widening of Ballarat Road in the mid 1960 s. Cost: £l,000. Inscription: Set on square column under canopy on north face (front) a replica of the emblem of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces. ERECTED By The Citizens Of The City of Footscray, In Honor Of The Men Of The Municipality Who Served In The Great War 1914 1918 And Dedicated To The Men And Women Who Served In The Second Great War 1939 1945 On south face (back), emblem of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces. On east and west faces, bronze laurel wreath Name of Builder: James Taylor & Sons, Monumental Masons, Footscray. All local labour was used except for the sculpting of the statue. Sculptor: Unknown. James Taylor & Sons contracted to have the figure of Victory sculpted in Italy and unfortunately, the sculptor is unknown. Date of Construction/ Installation: Unveiled on Sunday, 12 November, 1922 by the Governor General, Lord Forster, P.C., K.C.M.G., An estimated 4,000 people attended the ceremony. The approaches and entrances to the Footscray Park in the immediate vicinity of the statue were remodeled by order of the Footscray City Council. Body Responsible for Installation: Erected by the citizens of Footscray by public subscription. Present Condition: The right hand of statue broken.

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