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Holdfast Bay History Centre
Streets of Sorrow

WW1 Cheer Up Hut

Project Summary

The Holdfast Bay community, which consists of the amalgamated Council areas of Brighton and Glenelg, has participated in all major wars from the Boer War in South Africa to World War 1, World War 2, the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Streets of Sorrow gives a glimpse of the impact of these wars on a local community.  It especially focuses on the loss of family and friends through war and the extensive preparations that the community made during World War Two in case of enemy attack.

The exhibition was initially set-up in the Glenelg Air-Raid Shelter, itself an interesting legacy of community preparations for war.  Built during WW2 in the grounds of the Glenelg Football Club, it was used as an emergency communications bunker and also for storage of emergency supplies.

For more information about the project or the collections of the Holdfast Bay History Centre, contact the centre on (08) 8296 7500.

Edwin Goodall’s Regiment

Edwin Goodall and his brother George both went to the Boer War.  Edwin's war experience involved trekking through part of the Orange River Colony, where his contingent was constantly on the move, witnessing death and disease and being involved in taking possession of Boers' property, including more than 33,000 head of cattle.

George Goodall was chosen as the model for the head of the soldier for the Boer War statue outside Government House in North Terrace, Adelaide.

Arch of Remembrance

The Arch of Remembrance is a major icon in the Brighton community although it has had a chequered history. After much debate about an appropriate memorial and controversy over whose names should go on the memorial, the arch was eventually opened in 1926. The delay was partly due to the slowness of fundraising – soldiers refused to serve on the fundraising committee because they felt they would be asking for funds for themselves.  When the memorial was opened, the Glenelg Branch of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League refused to be officially represented.  A few days after the opening the memorial was vandalised and  following severe storm damage in 1963 the whole structure was pulled down.  A new Arch of Remembrance, commemorating service in both world wars was opened in 1964.

Loris Bulger, despite the barbed wire, on the beach at Brighton, 1940s.

World War 2 had a major impact on the people living in the Holdfast Bay area.  Trenches and air raid shelters were built throughout the district.  The people were subjected to general national restrictions and shortages and also some restrictions peculiar to being on the coast, such as having barbed wire strung along the beaches to prevent enemy invasion. As part of commemorations of WW2 streets in the Holdfast Bay area were named after each of the men and women who served but did not return – the Streets of Sorrow.

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