Lost Worlds of Kuringai : The Sphinx

The Sphinx war memorial is a dedication to all the men and women who served Australia in the first World War. Built by No 5756 ex-Private W. T. Shirley during 1925-6 it was his expression of friendship to all his comrades. Pte Shirley was gassed during WWI whilst serving with the 13th Infantry Battalion which led to his ill health and eventual death. At the time of his work he was a patient of Lady Davison Home, (close to the entrance oif Bobbin Head) a fact which makes his feat all remarkable.

The monument is a 1 in 8 scale replica of the original sphinx, the Great Sphinx of Gizeh, built by slaves in the earliest days of the Egyptian civilization. The exact age of the Sphinx is unknown, but it is thought to date to at least the reign of Cheops, 2nd King of the 4th Dynasty, around 4700 BC. It is 20m high, 55m long with a head 5m wide and 7 m high. Much of the time the great paws are covered in sand.

After WWII the monument was painted by Infantry soldiers to help thwart erosion and the mast of HMAS Adelaide was erected.