All about the Arch and Avenue

A SERIES of talks this month are complementing the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute’s current exhibition Ballarat Anzacs in the Heritage Reading Room.

A Lending Library presentation from historian Dr Phil Roberts will discuss Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour and Arch of Victory on Thursday, 21 April at 11am, and this talk will be a prelude to Anzac Day on Monday, 25 April.

The Avenue of Memories author said he’ll offer an “illustrated talk” about the historic, iconic local war memorials, and issues involved with them, and answer many common queries.

“Questions to be answered include, what was Ballarat like during World War One, how did the idea of an Avenue come about, when and by whom was the Avenue planted, and are their servicemen and women from Ballarat in World War one without a tree?” he said.

If you’ve ever wondered if Ballarat’s Avenue was the first in the country, if it’s the longest in the world, or when it was constructed and opened, Dr Roberts will have all the answers on the morning of the talk.

He said the audience is invited to ask questions and have discussions, especially regarding the particular topic of community attitudes to war commemoration, and whether they have changed since the First World War.

Dr Roberts’ talk will run for 40 minutes. His book, Avenue of Memories, which was published by the Arch of Victory – Avenue of Honour Committee, won the Victorian Premier’s History Award in 2019.

He was presented with the honour by Premier Daniel Andrews’ wife, Catherine Andrews.