100th anniversary of The Shrine in the Surrey Gardens

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the WWI Surrey Gardens Shrine, local resident, Sandra Dexter, has been working with Council to correct the errors and omissions in the list of names on The Shrine’s Honour Roll.

Officially dedicated in Surrey Gardens on Friday 12 April 1918, The Shrine may be the earliest WWI memorial built in Victoria, owing to the Australian War Council’s ban on public war monument construction preceding the Armistice.

The Shrine is distinctive in its bungalow architectural design and for the beautifully sculptured Honour Roll carved by local resident John Kendrick Blogg. It is the craftsmanship that first attracted Sandra to The Shrine. “I found myself bewitched by the gorgeous carvings and intrigued by the artist’s last name ‘Blogg’ and wondered if he had a son or family member in the war”.

Since its dedication a century ago, there have been at least two attempts to correct errors and omissions to the names on the Honour Roll. With a background in journalism and editing, Sandra had noticed inconsistencies remained on the roll. Driven by the storyteller within, Sandra has dedicated innumerable hours over the past three years to identify servicemen and women from Surrey Hills and Mont Albert.

Soon new panels will reflect Sandra’s research to-date, with names added to the roll as part of restoration works undertaken by Council.

A small exhibition dedicated to WWI servicemen and women will be held in the newly refurbished Maternal & Child Health Building in the Surrey Gardens and will be open on ANZAC Day.

You can attend a dawn service at The Shrine on Anzac Day organised by the Surrey Hills Progress Association.

Please see our Anzac Day in Boroondara article for information on other Anzac Day events in our City.