A trophy gun captured on the Western Front nearly 100 years ago has undergone a dramatic restoration by a handful of far north Queensland craftsmen.

The German trench mortar was captured during World War I by the Australian Imperial Force 41st Battalion, with many of its troops hailing from the Atherton Tablelands.

The gun was one of 15 trench mortars decommissioned, transported to Australia and presented to towns throughout the country.

The Irvinebank community was awarded its gun in 1921.

Initially a proud showpiece for the once prosperous mining town, it became a rusted relic after years of neglect.

Relic restoration reveals local talent

Since being awarded a $23,600 Queensland ANZAC Centenary grant last year, heritage specialist Gordon Grimwade has managed a local crew of craftsmen including German-born artist and blacksmith Hans Pehl.

"[Hans] worked on stripping it back, recoating it with protective coats for its long-term preservation," Mr Grimwade said.

"He put a lot of effort and energy into it because it was a German gun."

Wheelwright Tony Giltrap, machinist Bob Barnes along with Wilkinson Springworks also replicated the gun's original wheels, which had proved a stumbling block until a moment of serendipity.

Atherton-based wheelwright Tony Giltrap built new wheels for the WWI German trench mortar. ( Supplied: Gordon Grimwade )

Mr Grimwade visited France earlier this year to explore the Western Front for an unrelated World War I research project and came back with photographs that were the basis of the wheel design.

"It was coincidental really … you walk into a museum and you stumble over one of these guns complete with a wheel and you go 'Wow! That's what I need'," he said.

"It gave us a really good idea because when you look at the photographs of what it was like originally, you sort of scratch your head and say 'What the devil are we going to do?'."

'A bit of a lark' offers moment for reflection

Mr Grimwade tracked down an old photograph from the Imperial War Museum of four German soldiers lugging a similar trench mortar to the frontlines of battle.

German soldiers move a trench mortar during World War One. ( Supplied: Gordon Grimwade )

Mr Grimwade said the trench gun was difficult to move, even with four men. ( Supplied: Gordon Grimwade )

With the help of three locals, he recreated the scene for "a bit of a lark" but it also gave him an appreciation for the horrors of war.

"It's about 2-metres wide and it weighed about 400 kilos," he said.

"Pulling something like that through a battlefield — you've got bullets and bombs whizzing around, and then the muddy trenches over there and the conditions they were in — it would've been pretty horrific.

"We didn't have 303s [rifles], we didn't have German uniforms but we had a good time recreating a photograph from 100 years ago."

In almost-perfect working order

The reconstructed gun was unveiled in Irvinebank today in all but complete working order; the only thing it cannot do is fire.

Mr Grimwade said this reconditioned gun was rare, others throughout Australia are lying derelict, and that it was important to preserve Australia's military history.

"Military aspects might not be a favourite feature for most people but they're a part of the reality of life," he said.

"We've been able to preserve [this gun] for people in the future to see what the military hardware was like."

Irvinebank has a strong military tradition and was home to Victoria Cross winner Harry Dalziel, the 1,000th serviceman to receive the highest award for military gallantry and Monica O'Callaghan, who served as a nurse in World War I.