The Memorial Oval is a living memorial to the members of the armed services who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II. On top of a hill within the oval, opposite the grandstand, is an obelisk built of Besser bricks. Steps lead up to it and within a fence surrounding it are field pieces on its north and south sides. 

Improvements to the Oval, then known as the Western Oval and considered to be a dustbowl, were commenced as a combined venture between the Mining Managers' Association and the Unions about 1938. However little progress was made due to the outbreak of World War II.  It was not until after the war that work commenced in earnest.  The first stage to be undertaken was the removal of the old stand, a rickety structure which was termite infested and a danger to all who used it.  Then work had to be done on the oval itself.  It was badly out of level and to restore it a great deal of earth had to be removed by the contractor, Mr. Les Hadford. This entailed a great deal of expense and the limited resources of the Memorial Oval Management Committee rapidly dwindled. There were plans to turf the oval and create a cycling track and a trotting track but finance was a limiting factor. The Mining Managers' Association contributed heavily by having master plans drawn up and lending aid in a variety of ways. The Committee at this stage decided to try and make the Oval a community project and attract community funds.

A memorial obelisk, similar in design to the war memorial at Tobruk, was constructed on the brow of the hill in a commanding position on the Oval. The cost of the memorial left the Committee with little funds to progress, let alone meet the regular maintenance needs of the Oval. An approach was made to the Barrier Industrial Council and in 1947 it authorised the deduction from unionists' wages of one penny in the pound up to one shilling per fortnight to go to the Memorial Oval Fund.  This enabled improvements to the Oval to be undertaken.

West face
Incised cross

Below this is a bronze plaque
WAR MEMORIAL OVAL

THIS STONE WAS LAID BY
HIS EXCELLENCY
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR JOHN NORTHCOTT
KCMG GB MVO
GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES

5TH MAY 1951

South face
Bronze plaque
MEMORIAL OVAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
IN REMEMBRANCE OF
GAVIN MELVERN GRIFFITHS
FOR SERVICES TO THE MEMORIAL OVAL
1966 - 1986

"REST IN PEACE"

West face
Incised cross

North face

MEMORIAL OVAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

A GREAT BROKEN HILL CITIZEN
AND
PRESIDENT OF THE MEMORIAL OVAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
FROM 1954 - 1987
JOSEPH PETER KEENAN, O.A.M., J.P.
IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEMORIAL OVAL
"A TRUE BELIEVER"

Information current to November 2000

Sources:  Truth Broken Hill, 11 February 1947; 7 March 1957

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