Seymour - Military History Trail
The Military History Trail provides the perfect opportunity for any type of getaway you need. You can easily do this drive in a day, or you can take your time and explore each town for all it has to offer. War memorials offer special insights into local history and heroism. Each small town has their own stories of sacrifice, determination and devotion to duty. We invite you to experience these insights first hand and see how our communities have been shaped by these stories.
A rich military history is not the only drawcard of the area. Locals boast about gorgeous nature, fantastic food and wine and a thriving arts and crafts scene. The Military History Trail is a great way to explore all the region has to offer.
The Military History Trail is just 1.5 hours from Melbourne if you begin at Seymour. Here, you'll find the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk, where the names of more than 60,000 people who served in the Vietnam War are scripted across the 106 glass panels. Vivid photographs create a stirring visual timeline that guide you through one of Australia's most poignant historical moments.
Nearby is the WWI Memorial Park, where Gallipoli, Peace and RSL roses line the paths, a lone pine tree stands, and the Australian and New Zealand flags proudly fly in honour of the ANZACS. From here, its just a short drive to the Australian Light Horse Memorial Park, the site of the former Seymour Camp, Victoria's largest military training and staging facility before Puckapunyal opened in 1939.
You'll need photo ID to visit the RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum, which is within the Australian Army training facility at Puckapunyal. The Graytown Prisoner of War Camp, on Heathcote-Nagambie Road, dates from the Second World War, where it held internees from the German warship HSK Kormoran, which sank HMAS Sydney off Western Australia.
The Italian Ossario is in Murchison, a mausoleum commemorating the Italian civilian internees and military Prisoners of War who died during their incarceration in Camps throughout Australia during World War II.
Travel north to explore Tatura and Shepparton. with the Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum, the German War Cemetery and the Shepparton & District War Memorial. Two evocative sculptures can be viewed at this memorial. The Helping Hand, by pre-eminent Australian artist Charles Web Gilbert (1867-1925). depicts Private John Raws reaching down to help his brother from a trench on the Western Front. Mateship by Belo Angyal is based on an image taken in New Guinea by renowned World War II photographer Damien Parer (killed in action in the Pacific in 1944).
Benalla, on the banks of the Broken River, is home to memorials commemorating local heroes Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop and Captain 'Hec' Waller. Benalla is home to the Benalla Aviation Museum, where you can view a unique collection of military training aircraft. Book ahead if you'd like to experience an adventure flight in a restored aircraft.
Map of Military History Trail Locations
A. Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk
High Street (junction of Emily and Tallarook Streets), Seymour
Commemorates more than 60,000 people who served in the Vietnam War. Vivid photographs create a stirring visual timeline that guide you through one of Australia's most poignant historical moments.
B. Australian Light Horse Memorial Park
Goulburn Valley Highway, Seymour
Explore the relics and bush tracks on part of the former Seymour Camp, Victoria's largest training facility prior to the opening of Puckapunyal Camp in 1939.
C. WWI Memorial Park
Corner of Callen and Bretonneux Streets, Seymour
A tribute to those who served.
D. RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum
Hopkins Barracks Puckapunyal Military Area
Home to over 70 Armoured Fighting Vehicles, one of the largest armour museums in Australia. Photo ID required to enter operational military area at Puckapunyal.
E. Graytown Prisoner of War Camp
Heathcote-Nagambie Road, Graytown
Approximately 250 Italian and German Prisoners of War were detained here during WWII and the remains of the POW camp still exist today.
F. Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue
Goulburn Valley Highway, between Arcadia and Kialla
The Avenue is the grandest and largest of Victoria's World War II commemorative plantings. Fen Woodburn planted 2,457 trees between 1945 and 1949 as a memorial to his son Sergeant Calder Woodburn.
G. Italian Ossario
Murchison Cemetery, Willoughby Street, Murchison
Mausoleum commemorating the 130 interred Italian civilian internees and military Prisoners of War who died during their incarceration in Camps throughout Australia during World War II.
H. Murchison Riverbank Gardens
Stevenson Street, Murchison
The gardens feature memorials to Lt. Charles Roberts (Boer War), First and Second World Wars. The Murchison Heritage Centre is open Saturday mornings excluding Winter months.
I. Private Robert Mactier VC Memorial Garden
Hogan Street and Flanagan Place, Tatura
A statue honouring Private Robert Mactier stands in the Gardens along with an obelisk commemorating those who served in WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War.
J. Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
49 Hogan Street, Tatura
A unique collection of the history surrounding the WWII POW and internment camps around Tatura.
K. German War Cemetery
Tatura Cemetery, Mulcahy Road, Tatura
The final resting place for 250 German POWs and civilian internees who died during both World Wars across Australia.
L. Mooroopna War Memorial
McLennan Street (Midland Highway), Mooroopna
Features a WWI memorial rotunda and glass panels acknowledging the service of aboriginal soldiers and list of locals who served in WWII, Vietnam, Korea and Indonesian conflicts.
M. Furphy Museum Collection
Emerald Bank Leisure Land (Museum of Vehicle Evolution) 7725 Goulburn Valley Highway, Kialla
The collection features the Furphy Water Cart (manufactured in Shepparton), and its important role during World War 1, which bought the slang phrase "it's a furphy" into the Australian vernacular.
N. Shepparton & District War Memorial
Welsford Street and Marungi Streets, Shepparton
View the 'Helping Hand' and 'Mateship' sculptures and a commemorative cenotaph.
O. Private Daniel Cooper Mural
70 Welsford Street, Shepparton
Mural by Cam Scale depicts Private Daniel Cooper, a Yorta Yorta man who fought and died for Australia during WWI. The mural commemorates the service of local aboriginal people.
P. Shepparton RSL Sub-Branch
88 Wyndham Street, Shepparton (parking at rear)
View the impressive collection of local memorabilia donated by local families, including uniforms, weapons, photos and war time relics. Bistro is open daily for lunch & dinner.
Q. Graincorp Devenish Silos
Devenish Road, Devenish
Large-scale silo art explores the role of women in service and pays tribute to local people who enlisted during WWI.
R. Hector Waller Memorial
Benalla Botanical Gardens, Bridge Street, Benalla
A granite monument commemorates Captain Hector 'Hec' Waller who served during both World Wars. It is also a tribute to all men and women lost at sea on operational service.
S. Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop Memorial
Benalla Botanical Gardens, Bridge Street, Benalla
A moving sculpture commemorates soldier-surgeon and Australian war hero, Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop. Officially opened by Prime Minister, John Howard in 1996.
T. Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum
14 Mair Street, Benalla
Museum has a war services room which is devoted to Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop and Captain Hector 'Hec' Waller.
U. Benalla Aviation Museum
57 Samaria Road, Benalla
The historic home of the No. 11 EFTS Squadron, stationed at Benalla airfield during World War II. Explore Australia's military air training history and book a flight in restored military aircraft.
V. Honouring Our Heroes
19 Kirkland Avenue, VC Memorial Park, Euroa
Statues honouring Victoria Cross recipients Lieutenant Frederick Tubb, Corporal Alexander Burton and Lieutenant Leslie Maygar stand in the Euroa VC Memorial Park.
W. Telegraph Park
Brock Street, Euroa
Pays tribute to the 1,165 volunteers from the district who served in World War I.
Extra locations not on the map:
A4-4 AVRO Anson Memorial Track
Mt Torbreck, Eildon
A 2.4 kilometre uphill walk leads to the crash site and memorial of an RAAF Avro Anson aircraft that crashed on the north-east face of Mount Torbreck near Eildon in 1940, killing all four crew.
Location
12 High Street, Seymour 3660 Map
Web Links
→ Military History Flyer (PDF)
