Richard Russell Park.

Richard Russell Park is a heritage park in Manly centred on the Manly War Memorial, a public tribute to soldiers from the Wynnum-Manly area who served and died in the First World War. The park occupies a site bounded by Carlton Terrace, Cambridge Parade and Ferguson Street, placing the memorial within a long-established local setting rather than presenting it as a standalone monument.

The memorial was built in 1921 after local residents and the Wynnum Town Council worked together to create a permanent place of remembrance. It was originally known as Manly Memorial Park and was renamed Richard Russell Park in 1990, honouring the local alderman and mayor who selected the land for the park in 1919. The park was officially opened that year, with sixty trees planted by relatives of fallen soldiers.

Its main feature is a life-sized Australian soldier standing with reversed arms on a stone pedestal. The figure was sculpted by Alessandro Casagrande for Andrew Petrie and Son of Brisbane and carved from Carrara marble. The pedestal uses Helidon brown freestone on an Enoggera granite base, with marble plates recording local names. Four corner posts, once linked by chains, surround the monument and its paved oval. The memorial’s design reflects the idea of a cenotaph—an empty tomb for soldiers buried overseas—and its setting remains an important part of its character.

This is a worthwhile stop for visitors interested in Brisbane’s local history, military remembrance and the stories of the Wynnum-Manly community. It suits a reflective solo visit, a history-focused outing or a family walk with an opportunity to discuss how Australian communities commemorated the world wars. The site also connects visitors with the area’s remembrance traditions, which began with public services during the First World War before the memorial park and monument were established.