Guildford Avenue of Honour
Midland Highway GUILDFORD, Mount Alexander Shire
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Statement of Significance
The Avenue of Honour, Midland Highway, Guildford, is aesthetically significant at a LOCAL level. The long span of plane trees forms an important visual quality and a significant urban focus in this area of the Guildford Township. After the First World War, avenues of honour became a state-wide trend.
The War Memorial and Avenue of Honour, Midland Highway, Guildford, are historically significant at a LOCAL level. They are associated with the men and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars, including the father of Ron Barassi, renowned former V.F.L. footballer and coach, and businessman.
The War Memorial and Avenue of Honour, Midland Highway, Guildford, are socially significant at a LOCAL level. They are recognised and highly valued by the Guildford community for cultural, social and commemorative reasons in relation to those men and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars.
Overall, the War Memorial and Avenue of Honour, Midland Highway, Guildford, are of LOCAL significance.
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Guildford Avenue of Honour - Historical Australian Themes
Thematic Context
10. Community Life
Guildford Avenue of Honour - Physical Conditions
Good
Guildford Avenue of Honour - Integrity
Substantially Intact
Guildford Avenue of Honour - Physical Description 1
The Avenue of Honor and War Memorial are located on the northern outskirts of Guildford, on the Midland Highway.
The War Memorial pillar comprises a smooth faced pillar of Harcourt granite enclosed by four rough-hewn granite posts connected by a single layer of steel pipes. The pillar has a segmental arched top and coursed hewn granite sides. It rests on a concrete foundation and is surrounded by a granite post and tubular steel fence. A brass plate on the pillar bears the inscription 'Guildford Honour Row'. Beneath, inscribed on two brass panels, are the names of 99 local men, and one woman, who served in the first or second world wars. The twenty who died are indicated by crosses beside their names The Avenue of Honour on both sides of Templeton Streets is comprised of two rows of mature trees. There is a mixture of plane, elm and ash trees. The avenue stretches approximately 200 metres and consists of between twenty and thirty exotic trees; those having died in the years after 1919 have been replaced.
Veterans Description for Public
Guildford Avenue of Honour - Veterans Description for Public
The Guildford Avenue of Honour stretches approximately two hundred metres along the Midland Highway, consisting of between twenty and thirty trees including a mixture of plane, elm and ash trees. During the First World War,seventy-four men volunteered from Guildford and district, and nineteen died, with casualties of 26%, well above the 14% casualty rate of the entire AIF. At least three Guildford men were commended for bravery in the field: two were awarded the Military Medal and one the Military Cross. On Arbor Day, 13 June 1919, students of the State School, members of the Loyal Strathloddon Lodge and local citizens commemorated their soldier heroes by planting the Avenue of Honour, named Anzac Avenue, along the Midland Highway from the road bridge across the Loddon River to the railway arch.
A granite pillar marking the 'Guildford Honor Row,' was erected at a later date, c.1922, and a brass plaque attached that listed the names of the 74 Guildford volunteers. The names of 25 men and one woman were added after the Second World War. Of these, one died: Corporal Ronald J. Barassi, Australian Army Service Corps, who died at Tobruk, Libya on 31 July 1941, aged twenty-seven.
The pillar comprises a smooth faced pillar of Harcourt granite enclosed by four rough-hewn granite posts connected by a single layer of steel pipes. The pillar has a segmental arched top and coursed hewn granite sides. It rests on a concrete foundation and is surrounded by a granite post and tubular steel fence.
Heritage Study and Grading
Mount Alexander - Shire of Mount Alexander: Heritage Study of the former Shire of Newstead
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Phil Taylor, Vicki Johnson, and Robyn Ballinger
Year: 2003
Grading: Local
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Guildford Avenue of HonourVic. War Heritage Inventory
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