Local Government
Swan
Region
Metropolitan
Lot 8691 Helena St Midland
Originally at Cnr Helena St & Newcastle Rd (now Great Eastern Hwy), then moved to Cnr Helena St & Railway Parade, then moved BACK TO ORIGINAL LOCATION! Cnr Helena St & Great Eastern Hwy
Greer-Lyons Memorial Fountain
Swan
Metropolitan
Constructed from 1905
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage List | YES | 15 Dec 2010 | |
| Heritage List | Adopted | 30 Aug 2017 |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Register of the National Estate | Indicative Place | |||
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified | 07 Dec 1987 | ||
| Register of the National Estate | Nominated | 01 Jan 1989 | ||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 10 Jul 1996 | Considerable Significance | |
The place represents social significance as a memorial to a tragedy early in the State's railway history and maintains high aesthetic value.
When unveiled, the memorial had a tri-level plinth as its base. At the top of the plinth, an unusual carved motif of Freestone carried a marble slab. Above this was a block of Freestone, triangular in plan with bevelled edges, having taps projecting on one side of the block. A marble tablet carried the inscription: 'Erected to the memory of Driver G Geer and Fireman W Lyons who were killed in the Poison Gully railway accident August 1,1904'. The upper part of the monument, above the triangular block, was of Donnybrook stone carved into the shape of three dolphins with sea shells located between them. On top of the monument was an electric light globe.
The Geer-Lyons monument was originally situated in its current location however in 1935 it was moved to the corner of Helena Street and Newcastle Road (now Great Northern Highway). In about the 1955 it was restored and then moved back to its present position (which then had the Trades Hall situated opposite) .The Memorial monument was erected in memory of George Geer, engine driver and William J Lyons, fireman. They were killed on 1 August 1904, when their railway engine overturned after the bridge was washed away at Poison Gully, on the Midland Junction/Pickering Brook Canning timber line. A committee of local citizens was formed after the accident which raised funds for the erection of the memorial by holding benefit sporting events, concerts and dances and by subscription lists sent to railway unions throughout the state. A design for the memorial was eventually chosen, it being one submitted by Minchin and Cook of Perth and it was erected at the cost of 68 pounds. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Midland Junction on 8 November 1905.
High
Good
| Name | Type | Year From | Year To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minchin and Cook | Architect | 1905 | - |
Other Built Type
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Present Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Monument |
| Original Use | MONUMENT\CEMETERY | Monument |
| Type | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Other | STONE | Other Stone |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| PEOPLE | Local heroes & battlers |
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