The memorial was erected to commemorate the heroism of police constable James Sangster who drowned attempting to save two people.

It was erected to commemorate the heroism of police constable James Sangster who drowned, aged 25 years, in February 1893, whilst attempting to rescue two people trapped by floodwaters.

From 30 January 1893 the rain effects of three tropical cyclones affected south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in quick succession.

In Ipswich the Bremer River overflowed its banks on Friday 3 February with the water reported at being approximately 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) deep in Brisbane Street that night.

[1] On Saturday, 4 February, the Brisbane River rose close to the Jackson family home at Blackwall, near Kholo, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Ipswich.

[1] After the tragedy, members of the Jackson family decided to raise funds by public subscription to erect a memorial in Sangster's honour.

The memorial, occupying a prominent position in Brown's Park, was completed by Messrs C Wilson & Co. and was unveiled on Saturday 7 May 1898 by Alfred John Stephenson, the Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Ipswich at a well-attended ceremony and to the sounds of the Brisbane Police Band.

[1][2] The James Sangster Memorial is the only known monument in Queensland erected by public subscription to commemorate a police officer serving at the time of his death.

Since 1989, National Police Remembrance Day has been observed in Brisbane and many regional centres throughout Queensland on 29 September, which coincides with the Feast of the Archangel St Michael who was said to have always fought evil.

Above this is a heavy projecting label mould, which at the front, receives the shaped top of the dedication plaque and on the other three sides bears a laurel wreath.

The dedication on the replacement plaque reads:[1]Erected by public subscription in memory of Constable James Sangster who lost his life in a gallant attempt at rescue in the flood waters of the Brisbane River 5 February 1893James Sangster Memorial was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 18 September 2008 having satisfied the following criteria.

Dedicated on 7 May 1898, the James Sangster Memorial Fountain is significant for its symbolic association with the impact of the devastating floods of 1893 that affected south-east Queensland.

Constable Sangster lost his life attempting to save lives in the floods in the North Ipswich area, his heroism being acknowledged by the community and the colonial government with the construction of the memorial fountain.

The James Sangster Memorial is the only known monument in Queensland erected by public subscription to commemorate a police officer serving at the time of his death.