An historic WW1 field gun is set to be restored and displayed in Richmond’s Barkly Gardens, more than 100 years after the WW1 Armistice.

This historic field gun was originally gifted to the City of Collingwood and was displayed in the Darling Gardens for more than 90 years. It was removed due to its dilapidated state in 2013.

This decision comes following consultation with local residents, park users and the RSL community about the future of the gun, and whether it should be located in Barkly Gardens, Darling Gardens or gifted to a museum or institution.  After considering community feedback, Council decided to install the gun at Barkly Gardens.

The Richmond RSL and other local community groups are restoring the field gun, and it will be safely displayed with signage that explains its history.

This World War 1 Krupp Howitzer (150mm) field gun was originally a piece of German Artillery. Australian troops captured it from the German Imperial Army on the Hindenburg Line in France in 1918. It was installed in Clifton Hill’s Darling Gardens in 1922, after it was gifted to the City of Collingwood by the Commonwealth Trophies Committees.

This gun was one of the 33 captured weapons initially allocated to Victoria post Armistice.  This particular field gun was the largest of this allocation, and was gifted to Collingwood in recognition of the significant number of local population who served in the war. The gun will continue to serve as a reminder of the atrocities of war, and to commemorate those who serve.

You can read the full council resolution from 4 December 2018 below:

a) Council determines for the WW1 Field Gun to be reinstated in Barkly Gardens after restoration;

b) appropriate landscape design be developed to ensure the Field Gun is displayed in the most sympathetic and safe setting;

c) interpretive signage be installed alongside the Field Gun to explain its history and provenance;

d) prior to installation, community information is developed and distributed to explain the history and provenance of the Field Gun, and to explain the rationale for returning this memorial to public display;

e) Council thanks and acknowledge RSL members who have contributed to its current restoration; and

f) ongoing maintenance requirements of the Field Gun to be noted and referred to future budget considerations.