The State War Memorial, situated in Kings Park,
overlooks the City of Perth with beautiful views of the Swan and Canning Rivers and the Darling Ranges. The memorial was
developed around an obelisk as the principal feature, which is almost a replica of the Australian Imperial Force Memorials
erected in France and Belgium. The heavy concrete foundations are supplemented by heavy brick walls which enclose an
inner chamber or crypt on whose walls are recorded the names of men and women from Western Australia who were killed in
action during World War 1 and all subsequent conflicts.
Construction was started in 1928 and completed on 24 November 1929, when it was unveiled by the State Governor and committed
to the custody and care of the Western Australian Branch of the League. At each State Congress, the Branch elects a Warden to
guard this trust for a 12 month period and this appointment is rotated annually between a distinguished civilian and an ex-serviceman
or women. Ex-service appointments are also rotated and attend every wreath-laying ceremony and, for many years, the members of
the Highgate Sub-Branch have provided this service, as well as maintaining over 1,100 plaques for the memorial trees in the Honour
Avenues in the park.