AVENUES OF HONOUR IN THE CITY OF CASEY Our Living Memorials AVENUES OF HONOUR IN THE CITY OF CASEY ©City of Casey, Victoria, Australia November 2001 ISBN0 9579886 0 5 This book is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 and with the written permission of the City of Casey. For further enquiries: City of Casey PO Box 1000 Narre Warren, Victoria 3805 Australia Tel: (03) 9705 5200 www.casey.vic.gov.au 2 FOREWORD Nothing shocks a society more than the carnage of The Avenues of Honour in the City of Casey are Cranbourne Sub Branches of the Returned and war. The First World War, fought between 1914 and presented here to encourage future generations to Services League of Victoria, Casey-Cardinia Library 1918 in the Middle East and Europe, sent a wave of protect and maintain them in respect of the memory Corporation, the Beaconsfield Progress Association, disbelief and horror through the young Australian of those who served their country and those who the Berwick and Pakenham Historical Society, Miss nation. At the end of the War, communities across made the ultimate sacrifice. Elizabeth Whiteside, Mr Cyril Molyneux, Mr and Mrs Australia banded together and erected memorials, William Hudson, Lieut. Commander John Lodder, This book was produced by the City of Casey, in both living and in stone, to honour the men and Mr Clifton Emanuel and Mr Brian Hetherton. Special consultation with the community, to help our women who served in defence of their country. citizens identify and appreciate our precious living thanks go to Mr John Hughes who instigated and In the City of Casey there are seven Avenues of memorials—our Avenues of Honour. This document supported this project from beginning to end and Honour planted to commemorate the contribution takes a regional perspective, looking at the history wrote the original draft. The preparation and and sacrifices made by local volunteers in World of the local area and including towns and people publication of this book was made possible through War I. While these Avenues were planted following from outside the current boundaries of the funds provided by the City of Casey and the World War I, they stand as living memorials to those municipality. It also places the local history in the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs. who served in the wars that followed. context of what was happening nationally and abroad. Avenues of Honour are just one way that we remember and pay respect to those who served This book is a community effort that involved the their country. Other ways of remembering include contributions, dedication and resources of a number City of Casey cenotaphs, events and ceremonies, and special days of local individuals and organisations. We thank all Victor ia, Austr alia such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. those who contributed, including the Berwick and November 2001 3 THE CITY OF CASEY—AN HISTORICAL OUTLINE 1851 Colonial Victoria separates from New South 1912 Berwick Shire Headquarters is re-located to The City of Casey is one of Australia’s Wales. John Street, Pakenham. key growth areas. In the last quarter 1850s Rural settlements and townships develop 1950s Cranbourne Shire extends its Sladen Street throughout the region. offices to accommodate more staff. of the 20th century, 120,000 people 1860 19 June. The Cranbourne District Road Board (Before the Second World War, there moved in to Casey, and in the first is proclaimed with authority to develop local were only four office staff.) quarter of the 21st century, a further roads. (District Road Boards were the first 1963 Portion of the Ferntree Gully Shire separates form of local government.) and is renamed the Shire of Sherbrooke. 120,000 people will make Casey their 1862 The Berwick District Road Board is 1973 Berwick Shire splits. Pakenham becomes the home. Casey’s population is expected proclaimed. Shire of Pakenham. Doveton and Berwick to peak in excess of 300,000 people, ridings become the City of Berwick, 1865 Berwick Road Board Offices and later Shire making it one of Australia’s most- Headquarters High Street, Berwick established. proclaimed on 1 October 1973. 1868 24 February. Shire of Cranbourne is 1978 Cranbourne Shire builds new offices on populated municipalities. proclaimed. Sladen Street. 5 May. Shire of Berwick is proclaimed. 1994 22 April. City of Cranbourne is proclaimed. The City of Casey covers an area of 1875 The new Shire of Cranbourne Offices open 15 December. City of Casey is proclaimed approximately 400 square (an amalgamation of the Cities of Berwick including a Courthouse and Post Office. kilometres and is located 40km Previously, Council meetings were held at and Cranbourne). the Cranbourne Hotel. south-east of Melbourne. 4 CONTENTS Foreword 3 Our History 22 The City of Casey—An Historical Outline 4 At the Turn of the Century—The Local Scene 22 Avenues of Honour—Living Memorials 6 Australia and the British Empire 25 Avenues of Honour in the City of Casey 7 The Conflict in Europe 26 Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour, Australia Answers the Call 28 High Street (Old Princes Highway), Berwick 8 South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne 10 Coming Home 30 Memorial Drive, Narre Warren North 12 Bibliography 32 Harkaway Road, Harkaway 14 Church Street, Berwick 16 South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin 18 Wilson and Scanlan Streets, Berwick 20 5 AVENUES OF HONOUR—LIVING MEMORIALS Now when I pause beneath your tree, Australian War Memorial in Canberra, in an ABC their men and women in living memorials rather radio program, ‘Encounter’, commented on the than cold, stone cenotaphs. Native Australian And never will the thought of spring function of memorials in the grieving process: species were often chosen over the traditional visit our minds, we’ll remember you. European trees to signal national independence and War memorials were to a large extent pride; the avenues of flowering gums at Tooradin (Sylvia Lynd – poet) meant to assist her to cope with her and Harkaway are examples. These avenues were also free of religious association, which is symbolic Throughout Australia, Europe and America, Avenues grief although she would never see the of how the war had reached across many cultures of Honour have been planted by local communities and faiths, so that a monument common to all was to remember the efforts of past generations who actual grave in which her son lay. In appropriate. served in wars and conflicts around the world. Australia, the War Memorials in The muster roll-call of the men and women, who In Australia, the mothers, fathers and families of almost every small country town were all volunteers, is enshrined by the Honour soldiers who died on foreign fields in World War I transformed the physical and Boards and nameplates at the foot of each tree or (1914–1918) wanted a fitting memorial to their on a nearby memorial stone. They are memorials sacrifices. The Melbourne Argus published a metaphysical landscape. They were the that beautify the streets in which the brave Memoriam notice from the family of a man who 1 people’s monuments. citizens grew up, where they were nurtured and had died on 25 April 1915 in the first minutes of the went to school, and in the lanes and byways they Australian fighting. After the war, the mother added In Australia, avenues of trees were a popular loved to roam. a note: ‘If only I could see your grave I would die memorial choice that reflected the desire of the happy’. The former Deputy Director of the local community to commemorate the deeds of 6 1 World War One—Encounter (Radio Documentary) 2000, Radio National, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. There are seven Avenues of Honour within the City The City of Casey has a number of In keeping with the recommendations made in the of Casey. These are located at: report, the City of Casey is committed to a regular • High Street (Old Princes Highway) from significant Avenues of Honour, the maintenance program to ensure the trees are kept Beaconsfield (Cardinia Creek) to the township most well-known being between in good condition for generations to come. of Berwick. Some of the assessments and recommendations • South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne. Berwick and Beaconsfield, and the from the report are used in this publication to • Memorial Drive, Narre Warren North. South Gippsland Highway, describe the condition of the trees in the Avenues • Harkaway Road, Harkaway. Cranbourne. There are also smaller of Honour. • Church Street, Berwick. • South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin. Avenues to commemorate servicemen • Wilson Street and Scanlan Street, Berwick. in the Harkaway, Narre Warren North, The Avenues of Honour in the City of Casey are, Berwick and Tooradin areas, which for the most part, well preserved and in good condition. The exact location of each of Casey’s have a number of substantial and seven Avenues of Honour and the condition of the beautiful trees. It is with these in mind 468 trees were recorded in a report compiled for 2 the Council by Arboricultural Consultants (Australia that this report was produced. Pty. Ltd) (October 1999). The aim of the report is to ensure that the trees can be maintained, protected and replaced as they perish. The report states: 2 Aboricultural Consultants (Australia Pty Ltd), Report on the Avenues of Honour, October 1999. 7 BEACONSFIELD AVENUE OF HONOUR, HIGH STREET (OLD PRINCES HIGHWAY), BERWICK Ends at 111 High The Berwick Shire Council placed a special message in the Pakenham Gazette, 25 October 1929, in Street at Sign recognition of the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour: 118 TREES HIGH STREET Miss Ada Armytage had planted an avenue of honour between Beaconsfield and Berwick and Cr.