The acre of land that makes up the Soldier's Memorial Park in Whitianga was purchased by the Patriotic Society after World War One. Mrs Catherine Watts played a prominent role and Mr Jim Jackman financed the project to the sum of £220. The land was purchased from Mr L.D. Nathan for £120. The memorial cenotaph was erected in 1919 to the fallen of World War One. The Roll of Honour was later presented by Mrs Catherine Watts in 1939, and a public subscription funded the placing of this onto the cenotaph. A World War Two Roll of Honour was added to the cenotaph after that war, as were various battle plaques representing those wars and the other conflicts that followed. The Mercury Bay Sound Shell was established in 1950 here in the park with main access from Victoria Street, where the public library is now situated. The Mercury Bay Returned Servicemen’s Association (RSA) organised and ran the festivities over the Christmas and New Year period. Until 1968 the boundary for the audience consisted of a line-up of trucks. After that a temporary wall (car cases) was erected for the occasion. The ladies’ section of the RSA helped run events such as the Baby Show and the Beauty Contest. The Baby show was held the day of New Years eve from 1961 to 1973, in the Soundshell if fine. There were five groups – babies to 18 months, 18 months to three years (the Tiny Tots), 3 to 6 years, 6 to 10 years and 10 to 12 years. The Soldier’s Memorial Park continues to be used all year round by various community groups and is of course the venue of the Mercury Bay ANZAC Dawn Service each year on the 25th April – ANZAC Day. The park is also officially recorded as a place of remembrance on the Poppy Places Trust website.

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