Dalby War Memorial and Gates

Dalby War Memorial and Gates is a heritage-listed memorial at Patrick Street, Dalby, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built in 1922 by Harry Shill and British firms. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.HistoryThe Dalby War Memorial was unveiled on 26 July 1922 by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan. The memorial and gates were designed by local monumental mason, Harry Shill and British firms contributed to the design and construction of the digger statue. The stone and bronze memorial honours the 360 local men who served in the First World War, including the 64 fallen.Funds for the erection of the memorial were raised by public subscriptions and functions arranged by a public committee.Dalby is a small town west of Toowoomba. It was surveyed as a township in 1854, and began to prosper with the arrival of the Western railway in 1868. However, this was shortlived as the railway eventually moved further west and the township of Dalby came to depend on its dairy industry and agricultural produce.In 1919, Dalby requested advice from the Queensland Institute of Architects on the design of its war memorial. The Institute suggested that the town hold a design competition, which it would supervise. It is unclear what occurred next; however there is no evidence to suggest that a competition was held.