Municipality of Murrurundi and Warrah Shire First World War Roll of Honour

About

This war memorial is a large timber honour roll for those who served in the First World War located in the Murrurundi Historical Society museum. It has a carved pediment at the top with the names Murrurundi Municipality and Warrah Shire set within it. The names printed in gold are listed across four separate columns. The memorial displays a high level of craftsmanship, suggesting it was created by a professional cabinet maker and possibly purchased from a large country department store.  The Municipality and Shire combined to create the roll in 1917, at a time when the Australian Government encouraged local governments, schools, churches and other community organisations to establish war memorials.  The Maitland Daily Mercury, 3 November 1917 and the Maitland Weekly Mercury, 10 November 1917 reported that the roll had been completed and arrangements are being made for its unveiling shortly. However, as at December 2024, the unveiling date has not been determined but it is likely it took place late in 1917 or early 1918. This date means that enlistments for 1918 would not be listed on the memorial. The roll was likely originally located in the Murrurundi Council Chambers and was relocated to the Murrurundi Historical Society Museum. Later, the Murrurundi Shire War and Services Honour Roll was created and lists the names of those who enlisted in the First World War, including those on this honour roll, and other conflicts in which Australia has been involved.  The Murrurundi village was established by the NSW Colonial Government in 1840. It became a Municipality in 1890 and the surrounding district became the Warrah Shire on 7 March 1906. The area became the Upper Shire in May 2004.