The Remembrance Driveway

Nearly all cultures have found ways of remembering wars and honouring their war heroes. Some preserved the memory through myths and legends and others built monuments.

The Great War of 1914-1918 fostered an enormous community need to establish lasting memorials to those who served their country. Today Australia has more war memorials than any other nation.

After World War II, planting trees was seen as a symbol of hope for the future. Mrs Margaret Davis MBE, the Founding President of the Garden Club of Australia, suggested planting a living memorial to those Australians who had served in World War II.

A preliminary committee was formed in April 1952 to investigate planting avenues of trees and establishing groves and memorial parks along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra to honour those who had served as members of the Australian Defence Forces during World War II. This committee became the Remembrance Driveway Committee.

In 1954 the Queen and Prince Philip launched the Remembrance Driveway when they each planted a Plane tree in Macquarie Place, Sydney. These trees mark the Sydney end of the Driveway. In 2002 three Red Spotted Gums were planted by the Governor-General in the Remembrance Park, behind the Australian War Memorial, Canberra to mark the Canberra end of the Driveway.

During the 1980s the M5 Freeway, south of Liverpool, replaced the Hume Highway and it has become the new route for the Driveway with native trees and shrubs being planted along its length.

The Rembrance Driveway is a tribute from those who remember yesterday and have faith in tomorrow. It commemorates those who served in the Australian Armed Forces in World War II and subsequent wars or who have served since then in defence of the nation's interests, in operational theatres around the world.

During the mid-1990s the Committee decided to develop the Victoria Cross Rest Areas and Memorial Parks. These honour the 24 Australian World War II and Vietnam War Victoria Cross winners. Because of their acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage they have been selected by name to represent all the servicemen and women commemorated. It is hoped to complete 21 of these memorials by 2007 using Committee funds and with funding from the Federal, NSW and ACT Governments.

I hope that those using the Driveway will reflect on the sacrifices made by the soldiers sailors and airmen who have defended our national interests, helped forge our national identity and continue to serve the nation to this day.

Ian Callaway, Commodore RAN (Rtd)
President, Remembrance Driveway Committee