Dare Memorial (Mt. Cacussa (461 m))

 memorial, interesting place

 Upload a photo

About 5 km south of Dili (25mins by car) there is a private memorial to the people of East Timor, built by the Australian Forces that fought in Timor during WWII. During the war, “Sparrow Force”, 2/2nd and later 2/4th Independent Companies conducted guerrilla warfare against advancing Japanese forces across Timor. The success of the guerrillas in East Timor was only made possible by the support they received from the local Timorese. In 1969 the 2/2nd Commando Association established a memorial at Dare to help the people and show them that the diggers had not forgotten their help. Using Association, Federal and State funding, a concrete shelter, reflection pool and memorial plaque were erected and dedicated in Apr 69.

The memorial was refurbished in 2008, thanks to the generosity of Australia's Department of Veterans Affairs, to honour the veterans and their helpers. Additional school facilities were erected on the site using local/NGO funding to help the people of East Timor.

The memorial site has spectacular views of Dili, Wetar Strait and Atauro Is.