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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
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Observatory Park, South African War Monument 30...

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Observatory Park, South African War Monument 30 May 1986

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City of Sydney Archives

[047/047633]

(CRS 128/35)

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War Memorials for the Sudan and Boer Wars

Subjects

Boer War Memorials

Natural features

Observatory Hill

Events

Boer War

External Links

Register of War Memorials in New South Wales: South African War Memorial, The R…

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City of Sydney Archives

The City of Sydney Archives holds items from as early as 1842 when the Municipal Council of Sydney was established, and manage, preserve and provide access to more than 1 million items, including documents, photographs, maps, plans and data. The collection consists of City of Sydney corporate archives, items collected from the community relating to the City of Sydney local area and published reference material. Use the links to go directly to the City of Sydney's website.

War Memorials for the Sudan and Boer Wars

The earliest monuments to Australian soldiers in Sydney are for the Sudan Contingent in 1885, and the Boer War in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. These plaques honour soldiers who served and died and, in one case, women who worked as nurses during the Boer conflict.

Memorials

Boer War

Observatory Hill

Hill at the top of The Rocks, west of Sydney Cove, which is the highest point overlooking Port Jackson. With commanding views both east and west, it was the site of one of Sydney's first windmills from 1796 before being replaced with a fort in 1803. By 1849 an observatory had also been constructed which can still be visited.

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Boer War

Second war between the British rulers of Cape Colony in South Africa and Dutch-Afrikaner setters, known as Boers. The first, in 1880-1881, saw the British experience significant losses and when a second conflict broke out in 1889, the Australian colonies offered to send troops to assist. The first Australians arrived in December 1899. About 16,000 Australians fought in the Boer War, mostly in mounted contingents, of whom 282 died in action or from wounds and 324 from disease or accidents. Six Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross.

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