RSL Peace Garden (Warburton)

Designed to commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice, it was the celebration of "Peace" that was the inspiration for the Warburton RSL Peace Garden project.

The symbolic Bird of Peace is depicted in the stainless steel panels. We have 47 birds taking flight to honour the 47 men from the Warburton area, who never returned from their service in WW1. The birds are amidst stylised trees as a symbol of the treed area these men called home.

The Memorial on the western boundary - The Olive Tree is to honour the service of our "Peacekeepers" who have followed in the footsteps of the ANZACS and served in so many areas of the World to make the world a better place for current and future generations.

The Riverwalk entrance to our "Peace Garden" is our "Path to Peace" and we hope everyone who comes to our garden finds Peace in a place to reflect, relax, remember and give thanks to all who have served and their families, who have all made personal sacrifices to enable us to live in peace.

We thank the Australian Government, the Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank branches for their financial support to make this project possible. We thank all businesses and the community members who donated their time and money to make a vision become a reality.

The garden contains a Gallipoli Centenary Memorial - During World War 1, 47 men with close ties to the Warburton district, sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom we enjoy today. The loss left a huge void that effected families and loved ones, as well as the greater Warburton community and its development.

When researchers found a large discrepancy between the numbers lost, & those honoured on the Cenotaph in Warburton, it was found that when the Cenotaph was created, families of those lost were asked to donate to honour the service of their loved one. Many families were struggling financially during the depression and could not donate. Some men had no family here at all, as they had come from Europe and Great Britain to start a new life in Australia in the hope of a better future.

This wall was designed to commemorate the service of every one of the 47 men who never returned to the place they called home. Designed by Coral Reynolds & built by the Warburton Community through a series of Community Workshops, supervised by Warburton artist Sioux Dollman. Young and old worked side by side, donating their time to honour the 47 men lost by our town, and give thanks to all who stood tall, making personal sacrifices during and after WW1.

The mosaic rolling green hills are the backdrop for the 47 Red Poppies, one for each man named on the plaque on the Memorial Rock immediately in front of the Wall, surrounded by Gallipoli Rosemary, grown from cuttings brought to Australia from Gallipoli.

"THE SOULS OF HEROES DIE NOT IN THE LAND THAT THEY ADORED"
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM - LEST WE FORGET"

Photos:

Location

3325 Warburton Highway, Warburton 3799 Map

✆ (03) 5966 9874

Web Links

→ Warburton RSL