These sandstone pillars. They stand silent witnesses. They are all that remains of the Falcon Memorial Gates.
The Falcon Memorial Gates Plaque. It’s a poignant reminder of a grander design. Originally. Steel gates stood here. They framed these very pillars. A memorial to the masters and old boys of North Sydney Boys High School. They served in the Armed Forces. In wars since the school’s founding.
The Governor of New South Wales unveiled them. Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott. He did so on May 5th 1956. One plaque remembers those who served. Another plaque explains the gates’ story. The Falcon Memorial Playing Fields Trust. The North Sydney Boys High School. North Sydney Council. They all contributed to the original structure.
The name Falcon? It comes from the North Sydney Boys High School crest. The original gates were removed. This happened sometime before 1997. The reason remains a mystery. They were removed during construction. The Northside Storage Tunnel project necessitated their removal.
In 2001 the pillars and plaques were reconstructed. This was the work of the Northside Storage Tunnel Alliance. Genia McCaffery then Mayor of North Sydney oversaw the project. These pillars. These plaques. They stand as a testament to resilience. A symbol of remembrance. They are a reminder of the sacrifices made. The Falcon Memorial Gates. A quiet tribute. A lasting legacy. They are a symbol of pride for North Sydney. For North Sydney Boys High School. For all those who served. For those who remember.