In 1904 the Commonwealth Government undertook to distribute obsolete armament to Municipalities and Parks throughout Australia. The guns were obsolete muzzle loading guns and interested organisations had to apply for the gun and undertake to pay the cost of its removal and display. On 15 April 1904 Mr Newman of Mamhead, Lucknow wrote on State Parliament Letterhead (indicating he may have been the local member):

Dear Sir,

I have the honor to apply for one of these guns for the Public park at Orange, Orange being the most central town in the west, should receive favourable consideration.

The application was successful and a 24 pounder gun was allotted. The cost of removal and actual date of arrival are not known at this time but the latter may have been in 1906.

Ten SBML 24 pounder guns are recorded in place at Fort Macquarie (site of the present day Sydney Opera House) in 1827. In September 1836 Captain George Barney, Engineer Officer, requested to the Home Government for the supply of sixteen SBML 24-pounder guns to re-equip Fort Macquarie and Dawes Battery. They finally arrived in April 1840 and were placed on Pinchgut and Bradley’s Head. They were removed from there and placed at Fort Macquarie and Dawes Battery. By 1869 only one 24 pounder was emplaced at Fort Macquarie. Three were placed in Victoria Barracks at Paddington commanding the open country between Sydney and Botany Bay.

Thank you to the Orange City Council for permission to use their photograph.