Previously known as Brent Quilliam Stonemason
Lone Soldier Memorial Restoration – Gawler
Project Overview
In March 2022, the Lone Soldier Memorial in Gawler South suffered significant vandalism when the soldier's arm and rifle were broken off. This was not the first such incident; similar acts had occurred in the past. The memorial, unveiled in 1921, stands as a testament to the World War I service and sacrifices of men from the Gawler South community (gawler.sa.gov.au).
A.R.C Stonemasonry was commissioned for the heritage restoration of the memorial in time for Anzac Day 2023. The restoration involved hand-carving a replacement arm and rifle from Angaston marble, ensuring that the new pieces matched the original statue's style and material, showcasing exceptional stone craftsmanship. This approach differed from previous repairs that lacked such attention to detail.
**Scope of Work**
- **Restoration of Soldier's Arm and Rifle:** Hand-carved a replacement arm and rifle from Angaston marble, aligning with the original statue's style.
- **Use of Wooden Replica:** Utilised a wooden replica of the rifle to ensure accuracy in the memorial restoration process.
- **Sympathetic Integration:** Ensured that the new arm and rifle seamlessly integrated with the existing statue, preserving the memorial's historical integrity.
Memorial in Gawler before restoration, showing the broken arm and rifle caused by vandalism
Project Outcome
In March 2022, the Lone Soldier Memorial in Gawler South suffered significant vandalism when the soldier's arm and rifle were broken off. This was not the first such incident; similar acts had occurred in the past. The memorial, unveiled in 1921, stands as a testament to the World War I service and sacrifices of men from the Gawler South community (gawler.sa.gov.au).
A.R.C Stonemasonry was commissioned for the heritage restoration of the memorial in time for Anzac Day 2023. The restoration involved hand-carving a replacement arm and rifle from Angaston marble, ensuring that the new pieces matched the original statue's style and material, showcasing exceptional stone craftsmanship. This approach differed from previous repairs that lacked such attention to detail.
**Scope of Work**
- **Restoration of Soldier's Arm and Rifle:** Hand-carved a replacement arm and rifle from Angaston marble, aligning with the original statue's style.
- **Use of Wooden Replica:** Utilised a wooden replica of the rifle to ensure accuracy in the memorial restoration process.
- **Sympathetic Integration:** Ensured that the new arm and rifle seamlessly integrated with the existing statue, preserving the memorial's historical integrity.
Lone Soldier after restoration with a hand-carved replacement arm and rifle by A.R.C Stonemasonry