Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour
Narre Warren North, CASEY CITY
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
-
-
Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour - Physical Description 1
Avenue.
Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour - Historical Australian Themes
Remembering the fallen
Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour - Physical Conditions
Good condition and sign posted
Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour - Usage/Former Usage
Commemoration
Veterans Description for Public
Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour - Veterans Description for Public
The Narre Warren North Avenue of Honour creates a spectacular canopied entrance to the centre of township, comprising of 60 English Oak trees (Quercus robur) planted along Memorial Drive and the Main Street. It was officially opened in September 1919 to commemorate those locals who served in the First World War. The ceremony was opened by Berwick Shire Councillors W.G. a'Beckett, R.H. Kerr and Mr. H.Barr. Corporal Forsyth, from the Returned Soldiers' League, led the dedication of the trees. The community came together for the creation of the Avenue making tree guards, nameplates and planting of the Oak trees.
The Avenue begins at the bend in Memorial Drive, which is marked by a memorial obelisk and extends northward. It crosses Robinson Road and meets the diagonal Main Street, continuing on the south side of this road for about 30 metres. Inscribed on the obelisk are the names of three servicemen who paid the supreme sacrifice during the First World War: Herbert Battersby, M. Collis and R. Moors.
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. Dating from May 1916, the Eurack Avenue of Honour is the earliest known avenue of honour to be planted in Victoria.
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.
-
-
-
-
-
Post Office & Store (Former)Casey City
-
-
Narre Warren North Primary School No. 1901Casey City
-
1 Brockenshire StreetYarra City
-
1 Bundara StreetYarra City
-
1 Forster StreetHobsons Bay City
-
-