Berwick Avenue of Honour
Wilson Street and Scanlan Street BERWICK, CASEY CITY
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Statement of Significance
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Veterans Description for Public
Berwick Avenue of Honour - Veterans Description for Public
The Berwick Avenue of Honour was planted in September 1918 to commemorate the First World War. The planting of the Avenue was organised by the Berwick Progress Association with donations from residents of trees and tree guards. At the opening ceremony Shire Councillor W.G. a'Beckett planted the first tree and gave a speech about the importance of Honour Avenues. Originally comprising of 35 English Oaks (Quercus Robur) and Pin Oaks (Quercus Palustris), over the years gaps in the Avenue have been replaced with different species.
In Australia, commemorative trees have been planted in public spaces since the late nineteenth century. Arbor Days were held regularly in most Victorian State Schools during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and numerous trees were planted in parks in Melbourne and throughout Victoria to mark the visits of important and famous people.
This tradition of commemorative planting was continued in 1901 when at the end of the Boer War trees were often planted for each soldier of the district who was killed in South Africa. These plantings, however, rarely consisted of more than two or three trees in each town.
During and after the First World War avenues of honour consisting of trees lining significant streets became a popular form of commemoration. They represented a new egalitarian approach to the commemoration of soldiers where rank was not a consideration: each tree symbolises a person.
Avenues of honour are a uniquely Australian phenomenon. Australians, and in particular Victorians, embraced the idea of planting them more enthusiastically than any other country in the world. The Eurack Avenue of Honour is the earliest known avenue of honour in Victoriawith planting commencing in May 1916.
By the time of the Second World War avenues of honour had declined in popularity as a means of commemoration. Today it is estimated that over 300 avenues of honour have been planted in Victoria to commemorate service personnel since 1901.
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EDRINGTONVictorian Heritage Register H0653
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BERWICK BRICK DRAINAGE FEATUREVictorian Heritage Inventory
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Berwick TownshipCasey City
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