Hobart’s Soldiers Memorial Avenue targeted by plaque thieves

A Hobart soldiers’ memorial is the latest to become a target for metal thieves, with 19 plaques ripped from their plinths in what council has labelled an “appalling” event.

Plinth with missing plaque from Soldiers Memorial Avenue. Picture: City of Hobart

One of Hobart’s key war memorial sites has been vandalised as a number of Hobart sites fall victim to rising metal theft.

The Hobart City Council announced on Tuesday it had discovered that up to 19 brass plaques have been stolen from the Soldiers Memorial Avenue on the Queens Domain, with the bronze plaques appearing to have been forcibly removed from their stone plinths.

Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue President John Wadsley said the group had worked hard to restore the avenue over the last 24 years and the vandalism had been a cruel blow.

“The Friends Group has been actively involved in restoring this avenue for the last 24 years,” Mr Wadsley said.

Soldier Walk in Hobart, descendants of soldiers who died during World War One (1) gather to unveil more dedicated memorial plaques on Memorial Avenue on the Domain, descendants of soldier Owen Stanley Tolman from left Rosamond Haigh, Bernard Tolman, Susan Kerr, Anne Taylor, Aydan Batty, Elaine Fogarty and Ian Gollings

“We are appalled that anyone would consider stealing, removing, destroying these memorial parks.

“They represent the loss that families in Hobart suffered and the love that they had for someone who died on the other side of the world.

“These plaques may hold little monetary value, but to the families of the fallen soldiers, they are priceless.

“This should never happen and must not be allowed to happen again.”

Council said in a release that they were “appalled at the theft of these plaques” and had reported this matter to Tasmania Police and will be working closely with them.

“Soldiers Memorial Avenue is a significant heritage site, with over 530 trees planted to honour Tasmanian soldiers who died in World War I,” a council spokesperson said.

Anzac Day. At the Soldiers Memorial Walk on the Domain are L-R Graham Hughes, Catherine Roberts, Kathleen Petterd, Margaret Huxley all of Hobart who are relatives of World War I diggers brothers Eric and Norman Hall who were killed in action. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

“Each tree is marked with a plaque bearing the name of a fallen soldier, making this a deeply meaningful place for many in our community.

“We urge anyone with information about this crime to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at crimestopperstas.com.au.”

Other memorial spaces around Hobart have been hit by metal vandals targeting plaques and statues, including the convict children memorial statue in St Johns Park New Town and the historic plaques in New Norfolk’s Arthur Square and Pioneer Avenue.

Originally published as Hobart’s Soldiers Memorial Avenue targeted by plaque thieves