The original 65 nameplates made in 1929 for the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour have been returned to Beaconsfield and the plan is to display them at Berwick Pakenham Historical Society for all to see.
After World War I, the Beaconsfield Progress Association applied to the Roads Board to plant an Avenue of Honour and Philanthropist Ada Armytage donated the funds for the planting of the 123 Hybrid Black Poplars along the main road in 1929.
Individual metal nameplates were made for each of the 65 servicemen, but for various reasons were never displayed. Extensive research has discovered that the nameplates were found stored in Adamson’s old Hardware Store in Woods Street and then handed over to City of Casey in the 1980’s.
The late Tony Rushton, a local Beaconsfield resident, located the nameplates stored in the City of Casey Depot. He was responsible for initiating the project that would see the names of the 65 servicemen displayed on a new plaque within the Beaconsfield area.
Beaconsfield Progress Association inc. decided to ensure that the new plaque was made and displayed. With research for all the soldiers’ names by historian Penny Harris Jennings and support from the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council with a Restoring Community War Memorials Grant new Bronze plaques were made and installed at Beaconsfield Park on the corner of Beaconsfield Emerald Road and Old Princes Hwy in 2014. Information about each of the servicemen has been published in a booklet ‘Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour; servicemen remembered’ and is also on the digital memorial on the BPA website https://www.beaconsfield.org.au
The original 65 nameplates are 95 years old and are fragile. However, BPHS and BPA are hoping to be able to display them in a purpose- built case at Berwick Pakenham Historical Society and are currently working on an application for a Grant and plans for the display case.
So it is hoped that after 95 years these original nameplates may finally be displayed and will be a fitting tribute to the 65 servicemen.
By Ann Taylor
