No-one knows for sure how many war monuments and memorials there are in Southland, but Venture Southland is hoping to change that by compiling an inventory.
The organisation, a joint venture between the Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council and Gore District Council, is contracted to look after tourism, economic development and community development projects throughout the region. About 160 memorials had been identified so far, community development team leader Bobbi Brown said.
But it was believed there could be as many as 600, from memorials, columns, plaques and rolls of honours in halls, schools, lodges, churches and maraes, to clocks, bird-baths, memorial buildings, gates and bridges.
There were concerns some memorials were being lost as older people with relevant knowledge died, land uses changed and community venues changed or disappeared, she said.
''There's no one list of all war memorials. We just want to create this list to say where they are.''
The inventory would lead to an electronic record which would be available to the public online. A steering group for the project was established this month. RSA branches were being contacted as a key part of the project, she said.
Ms Brown asked anyone with details of lesser-known Southland war memorials to contact Suzanne McKenzie or Nick Round-Turner at Venture Southland.
