Victoria’s first major public memorial honouring those who served in the Korean War will be built in Footscray.
Veterans Minister John Eren visited Quarry Park on Wednesday to announce a $100,000 state government contribution to a project that will recognise more than 17,000 Australians who served in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. The war claimed the life of 339 Australians and left another 1200 wounded.
The Republic of Korea will contribute $300,000 to the memorial, on top of a further $150,000 raised by the Korean War Memorial Committee.
Designs are expected to be completed in coming months.
Republic of Korea consul-general Jo Hongju welcomed the announcement of the “meaningful and honourable” project.
“The memorial will honour the Korean War veterans and also represent the close friendship between Korea and Victoria,” he said.
Mr Eren said the project would be important to Korean War veterans and the wider Korean community.
“We want to ensure that future generations can visit this memorial and pay their respects,” he said.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said the memorial would be a place that brought people together and commemorated those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Maribyrnong council last year announced Quarry Park would be the site of the memorial, following an approach from the Australian Korean War Veterans and the Korean War Memorial Committee.
Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming welcomed the project, which the council’s Heritage Advisory Committee indicated would reflect the connection to the munitions manufacturing history of Maribyrnong and the nearby Edgewater estate.
“Our city has a long history supporting Australian servicemen and women,” she said. “It’s fitting that we will have Victoria’s first war memorial honouring the efforts of Australians and Koreans who fought in the Korean War.”
