In 1947 the Thames War Memorial Committee resolved to build a community centre on the old gas works site in Mary Street. This was to consist of RSA clubrooms, a women’s rest room, and a community hall. The Mayor of Thames, Mr S. Ensor, laid the foundation stone on 9 April 1954. The RSA clubrooms were opened in June 1953; the women’s rest rooms were opened in December 1953; on 17 August 1954 Major-General Sir Norman Weir formally opened the war memorial hall.
The lamp of remembrance and a handsome bronze plaque inscribed ‘1939 – 1945. We Will Remember Them’ were placed in the lobby. As far as is known, no Thames Second World War roll of honour was compiled. At first Anzac Day services were held at a temporary cenotaph placed in front of the hall, but in 1958 a permanent cenotaph was built there. This was a low plastered concrete wall set on a concrete base and inset with several dedicatory plaques.
In 1999 the community centre was substantially rebuilt. The hall was enlarged and extended and the rest rooms were demolished and replaced by a conference centre. Governor-General Sir Michael Hardy Boys opened the refurbished building, renamed the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, on 12 March 2001. The lamp of remembrance and dedicatory plaque from the hall and the plaques from the cenotaph were placed on display in a new memorial wall outside the main entrance.
After the demolition of the Kopu hall in 2012, the Kopu roll of honour was also moved to the civic centre.
Sources: ‘Community Centre Foundation Laid’, Thames Star, 12/4/1954, p. 4; ‘Nine Years Planning’, Thames Star, 17/8/1954, p. 5; ‘Thames War Memorial Opened and Dedicated’ [various articles], Thames Star, 18/8/1954, p. 5; ‘Large Crowd Fill [sic] New Centre for Community Ball’, Thames Star, 19/8/1954, p. 5; ‘Thames RSA Proposal to Erect Cenotaph’, Thames Star, 16/10/1957, p. 1; ‘War Memorial Hall Refurbishment 2000’ [unpublished album held at Thames Public Library].
Community contributions