World War I Cenotaph, Mackay

The World War I Cenotaph is a white marble and granite structure positioned at the northern edge of Jubilee Park, bearing 159 inscribed names of fallen soldiers. A Doric column rises from a raised pedestal to form the main element of the monument.

The monument was built between 1928 and 1929 near Sydney Street Bridge before the threat of riverbank erosion prompted its relocation to Jubilee Park in 1945. This move preserved the structure for future generations.

The three symbolic steps ascending to the pedestal create a visual passage that visitors naturally follow when approaching. This arrangement transforms the space into a place where people pause and reflect on loss and remembrance.

The cenotaph is accessible year-round within Jubilee Park and serves as the central gathering point for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies. The park provides open pathways leading to the monument with space for visitors to pause and reflect.

The memorial was funded through the efforts of sisters Lizzie and Mary Cameron, who led a 20-member committee organizing public donations to bring the project to life. The design came from Townsville architect Stephen Harvey, whose work became a focal point for remembrance in the community.