Avenue of Honor - Ballarat

During the First World War, between fifty to sixty percent of young Ballarat men enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and went fight overseas for their county.  The absence of these young eligible males was keenly felt amongst the women, so Elly Lucas who operated a clothing manufacturing company with her daughters and employed almost five hundred women by 1917, decided to honor these young men by planting a tree in an avenue for each of the men who enlisted.  Women who enlisted as nurses etc., are also honored.

The "Lucas Girls" as they were to become known, undertook eight plantings between 1917 and 1919 with twenty-three different species planted along a 14 mile (22km) stretch of main road, from Sturt Street, Ballarat and to five kilometres beyond Burrumbeet towards Learmonth.

As well as raising money for the trees, the "Lucas Girls" worked hard to raise a large sum of money to pay for the construction for the Arch of Victory, which was built in 1920 as a gateway to the avenue.  

The construction was completed in three and a half months, by sixteen workers, and the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII, cut the ribbon and was presented with silk pyjamas made by the Lucas Girls who were honoured to attend the official opening in June 1920.


It is claimed that the Ballarat Avenue of Honor is Victoria's greatest, with of 3801 trees, the most successful being elms and poplars. 

The booklet below was produced by the "Lucas Girls" as a Souvenir.

 

A section of the page with James Greenbank's details and number - 282.

View of Avenue of Honor, Sturt Street West, Ballarat after planting was completed in 1919.

James Greenbank's tree, No. 282, planted in the Avenue of Honor, 1914-1919  Sturt Street West, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.  

The original tree has been replaced with a new one opposite the Army Barracks, due to new roadworks.