The City of Sydney’s restoration of the Glebe War Memorial in Foley Park was ‘highly commended’ in the recently announced National Trust’s 2016 annual Heritage Awards.

The Glebe War Memorial restoration project involved the conservation of almost every element of the memorial. It was built in 1921 in honour of 174 local residents who did not return from World War I, including the Australian fast bowler Albert ‘Tibby’ Cotter.

Glebe War Memorial (image Sardaka)
Glebe War Memorial (image Sardaka)

The memorial was designed by local resident and architect, William Martin, and funded by the Glebe community.

For the restoration, replacement busts of an Australian soldier, sailor and an angel were hand-carved from Italian Carrara marble, in time for the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War.

The missing Victoria Cross was also replaced, having mysteriously disappeared decades ago. Specialist metal artists reproduced the cross in time for Anzac centenary year celebrations.