Delungra First World War Memorial Avenue

About

This grouping of 12 trees in Delungra, NSW, are the remains of a memorial avenue planted around 1918-1919 by the community and Bannockburn Shire Council. The trees are Acacia Melanxylan (Australian blackwood) and are planted alongside the Gwydir Highway, also known as Inverell Street.  The idea of a memorial avenue was discussed at a meeting of the Delungra Farmers and Settlers (F. and S.) Association in September 1918. The meeting was reported in The Inverell Times on 1 October. The well-received plan was to organise a "comprehensive tree planting scheme" for the town, including installing protective tree guards, which would have name plaques attached of those who enlisted. It was decided to approach the Council for assistance with the project.  The avenue was again discussed at the October meeting of the F. and S. Association, where it was decided that the whole community should have the management of the project. Further discussion took place at the Soldiers' Welcome Home meeting  on 11 November. Based on the reporting of the meeting in the Times on 19 November, it would appear some trees had been planted but had not survived. It was decided to attempt more planting at the next Arbour Day celebrations. A committee was formed to consult with the community on the types of trees to select, as special care was required to find trees that would cope with the climate.  By December, it was decided planting 100 trees was too big of an undertaking for the committee, so they would reach out to "local bodies" for assistance (The Inverell Times, 10 December 1918). However many trees were eventually planted, only 12 remain. This loss would have been caused by drought and the fact that bitumen was placed close to the trees.

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