Wandin North Avenue of Honour
Beenak Road, Warburton Highway WANDIN NORTH, YARRA RANGES SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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Veterans Description for Public
Wandin North Avenue of Honour - Veterans Description for Public
The Wandin North Avenue of Honour was officially opened by Viscount Stanley Bruce, an ex-Serviceman and Australian Prime Minister during the 1920s, to commemorate the First World War. A photograph of the opening ceremony is held by the Mont De Lancey Historical Museum. The Avenue comprises of an impressive row red flowering gums (Eucalyptus ficifolia) and extends along the south side of Beenak Road, from the Warburton Highway to just beyond the war memorial at the intersection. The trees are red flowering gums (Eucalyptus ficifolia), which were often used for commemorative plantings.
There appear to be around fifteen trees from the highway to Mary Street, eleven trees near the war memorial, and some younger trees which may be replacements. There are also several trees within the grounds of the Wandin Yallock School opposite which may be connected. Part of the plantation was also dedicated to those who served in the Second World War.
Measurements: 14/11/1985
Spread (m): 12.6
Girth (m): 2
Height (m): 7
Estimated Age (yrs): 65Measurements: May 2010
Average Spread: 12m
Average Girth: 2.5m
Average Height: 9m
Condition good - Only 16 trees.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.
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Wandin North Avenue of HonourVic. War Heritage Inventory
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