A Tasmanian council has approved a permanent memorial to honour the six children who lost their lives in the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy, despite opposition from a local community group.

The memorial, unanimously endorsed on September 24, has been described as a “true gift to the families who endured unimaginable loss” and a “place of collective remembrance for all.”

The design has been hailed as a “shared space of comfort and enduring community strength.”

It comes nearly four years after a freak gust of wind lifted the jumping castle 10 metres into the air before it landed 75 metres away, killing students Chace Harrison, 11, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Zane Mellor, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, Jye Sheehan, 12, and Peter Dodt, 12.


But the project has also faced backlash. Earlier in September, the Friends of Coles Beach group circulated flyers criticising the chosen location at Don Head Foreshore, questioning its relevance to the tragedy. 

Hillcrest, the suburb where the incident occurred, is about 4km away.

The foreshore site was one of 13 locations initially considered. Families of the victims ultimately selected it from a shortlist of three.

According to the design report, “At the arrival to the memorial, generous stone seating will offer a quiet space for reflection and remembrance. 

“Six sculptural pillars will serve as the central focus of the memorial garden, acting as beacons guiding the families through grief and loss. 

“Each pillar will be individually customised to honour the children that were lost, featuring a message or quote on the side that holds deep meaning for the families.”

The Tasmanian landscape architects behind the project have also incorporated a “vibrant and colourful wildflower meadow” into the design, using dried and mulched flowers from the temporary memorial to be spread by families at the opening.

The state and federal governments are jointly funding the memorial, while the council will take ownership and manage ongoing costs, estimated at $30,000 to $35,000 annually.

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