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Remembrance Driveway

Remembrance Driveway
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Description / Background

The Remembrance Driveway is a living memorial to those who served in the Second World War, and in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping missions in which Australia has been involved. It consists of numerous memorial plantations, parks, and rest areas, located along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra. 

The memorial areas are often accompanied by signage, or bushrocks with plaques attached. The plaques are generally inscribed with dedications to servicemen and women, and the name of the business or organisation who originally sponsored the grove, or is responsible for its maintenance. 

Brief history

The Driveway was first launched on 5 February 1954, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. On that day, the royal couple planted two trees in Macquarie Place Park, on the corner of Bridge and Loftus Streets, in the Sydney CBD. The ceremonial spades used for this special occasion are shown in the images above. They are housed at the Sydney Town Hall. 

In 1995, a stone plinth was installed in the park, with a plaque explaining the significance of the trees. This was part of the 'Australia Remembers' campaign, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In 2022, the trees still stand proudly in the park.

Detailed information about the Remembrance Driveway and its history can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Individual memorials

The NSW War Memorials Register holds listings for some of the plantations and bushrock memorials along the Driveway. These are listed in the 'Related memorials' section below. 

If you are interested in the segment of the Driveway that runs through Berrima, NSW, please refer to the listing for the Berrima Remembrance Grove

Inscription

Ceremonial spades

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh used this spade when planting a tree in Macquarie Place Park, Sydney, to mark the beginning of the Remembrance Driveway to Canberra 5th February 1954.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II used this spade when planting a tree in Macquarie Place Park, Sydney, to mark the beginning of the Remembrance Driveway to Canberra 5th February 1954.

1995 plaque

Remembrance Driveway

Sydney, Liverpool, Mittagong, Goulburn, Canberra

A living memorial of 320 kilometres of plantations and groves of native trees and shrubs, parks and rest areas dedicated to the memory of members of the armed forces of Australia who served in World War II, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, South Vietnam and as UN Peacekeepers.

Service and sacrifice 

Australia Remembers 1995

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Address
Macquarie Place Park
Cnr Bridge and Loftus Streets
Sydney NSW 2000
Local Government Area
Sydney, City of
Setting
Building – inside
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Garden/park
Memorial avenue/Memorial tree/Memorial trees
Stone/bushrock
Other
Recorded by
NSW War Memorials Register
Year of construction
1954
Dedication date
05 February 1954
Conflict/s
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Peacekeeping, 1947–present
All conflicts