BCC was contacted on Friday in relation to the tree planting being undertaken at the moment on the Avenue of Honour and within ANZAC Park. Has there been any community consultation or notification? What is the overall landscape design for this planting?
Inappropriate planting has been done on the Avenue of Honour which runs along the length of Wool Street and is listed to be restored by the Centenary of ANZAC in 2015, as mentioned in this BCC Report HERE.
The park was listed on the BCC Heritage Register in 2004. The Avenue is also listed on the Queensland War Memoral Register, search it HERE
These plantings do not appear to have been done considering the heritage values of the Avenue or ANZAC Park. At a meeting in May 2011, Cr Matic, Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, assured that the Avenue would be restored using experts - i.e. arborists, historians, archaeologists - and that the RSL would be consulted. Has the Toowong RSL Sub-Branch been consulted on the plantings and restoration? Cr Matic was also asked when the Avenue would be restored, but has not provided this information.
ANZAC Park is significant, do we have to guard it 24/7 to stop it from being desecrated, disfigured, destroyed?
When ANZAC Park (Lot 1 RP 18899) was established in 1916 it was a large area of 39.26ha and when the Western Freeway went through in 1969 it was reduced to the small wedge we now have left. In the past year we have seen that the Reference Design for the Legacy Way tunnel project would have taken a permanent slice off the park; the five month ‘Save ANZAC Park’ battles to preserve the park from the BCC Legacy Way workforce car park proposals; the revised route for the tunnel project electricity power supply cable to avoid surface works across the park and cutting across the Avenue of Honour; and a current option which may see the relocation of the trunk water-main which is located under the Western Freeway, accessed by Wool Street and Broseley Road with clearing of bushland adjacent to ANZAC Park below the dog park off leash area......and now this. Let's hope this is just an unfortunate mistake which will be resolved asap.
If you have any information/comments regarding this please email: faptoowong@gmail.com and/or saveanzacpark@gmail.com
Contact Cr Peter Matic to voice your concerns HERE
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| Avenue of Honour from Dean Street looking along to the top of Wool Street. Planting began in 1917. |
The Brisbane Courier, Monday 27 January 1919, page 5
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,-Soon after the outbreak of the big war Mr Walter C. Harding, solicitor, initiated the idea of planting trees in Anzac Park, Toowong, the first place in the world to bear that historic title, it is understood. This he did at his own expense, and at the present time over 3000 trees have been planted, 1600 of which are in memory of fallen sailors and soldiers. The only charge made to the persons who desire a tree planted in memory of a soldier “gone west” is for the plate which bears the battalion colours, rank, name, unit, date of enlistment, and date and place of death, the cost of such plates ranging from 2/ to 3/6. It is alleged that the Toowong Town Council, in whom the park is vested, has not given the assistance that might reasonably have been expected in watering the trees and attending to the park, as a consequence of which many of the trees have died during the recent dry weather. There is a caretaker at the park, certainly. Very little water is laid on, and consequently any one taking an interest in a particular tree has to carry the necessary water from Mr Harding’s residence. The rejected volunteers are willing to assist Mr Harding in watering, weeding, &c., and they put in some good work last Saturday. What is needed is the laying on of sufficient water pipes and having taps placed, say, every 50 yards or so. Were this done plenty of willing helpers would come forward voluntarily on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and keep the trees in good order. Is this too much to ask of the Toowong Council? If so, I suggest that public subscriptions be invited for the purpose of having water laid on to Anzac Park in order that the trees planted to perpetuate the memory of our honoured dead may have a fair chance to grow and flourish, and in time provide an historical reminder of our gallant heroes who fell in the cause of freedom from the proposed world rule of the Hun.
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| Palmer Family on Avenue of Honour 1953 |
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| Florence Hamilton (nee Savage) of Wool Street c1923 |
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| New plantings October 2011, wrong! (Problem solved - trees were removed today, 2 November, and will be relocated!) |
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| Wrong again! (Problem solved - trees were removed today, 2 November, and will be relocated!) |
2011 RSL Poppy Appeal and details on a Remembrance Day service near you HERE
