Ballarat Avenue of Honour

13/06/2026

Pleasant Street Honour Roll returns home

Pleasant Street honour roll returns home as pupils remember First World War alumni and reconnect with school history.

12/06/2026

Battle of Messines (Belgium) in 1917, meant many heavy losses, including men from Ballarat, such as Edward Hocking and William Edwards, which both have no known graves, but are listed on the Menin Gate in Ypres and who both have a tree in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

Edward Hocking (SN 460/Lt.) was born in Ballarat and attended the Little Bendigo State School, and enlisted in 1917 at Boulder WA, where he was working as a miner. He was 39 years of age and married.
He had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by the time was killed in action at the start of the Battle at Messines, in June 9th1917.
https://honouringouranzacs.com.au/people/details/2659

William Edwards (SN 1278), born in Ballarat and educated at Humffray Street State School, an unmarried 21 year old tailor when he enlisted on March 31st 1916. He left Melbourne in late May on board the Ascanius to serve with the 39th Infantry Battalion. He was posted to France in June 1917 with the 37th Battalion and was killed, at the age of 22. in action only a month later during the continued fighting at Messines, Belgium, on July 13th 1917.
https://honouringouranzacs.com.au/people/details/2151

Lest We Forget
Battle at Messines:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Messines_(1917)

The Menin Gate:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1579

39th Battalion AIF 1916-1919
WW1- The Great War Remembering those who served
Menin Gate, Ieper, Belgium

07/06/2026

It's Australia's greatest ever military disaster but new research shows the Battle of Fromelles may have been even worse than wartime records suggest.

29/05/2026

Sapper William Paisley

Avenue of Honour/Arch of Victory President Garry Snowden, his wife Marion and friends, went to look for the grave of Sapper William Paisley. The grave itself wasn’t easy to find; he does however have a plaque on a memorial wall at the Rookwood Cemetery.

William Paisley (SN 78449) was born in Durham, UK, but attended Ballarat’s Macarthur Street State School. He enlisted at Ballarat on June 11th 1917. He was 39 years old, unmarried, and a boilermaker at the time of his enlistment, and sent to the Engineer Training Camp at Roseville, Sydney.

Sadly, whilst working on a roofing project, in July 1917, he was struck by lightning and killed.

He is buried in the Rookwood Cemetery, NSW, Australia.
Cemetery photos and photo of the tribute by pupils of the MacArthur Street Primary School (Placed at the Arch of Victory Memorial Wall previously) thanks to Marion Snowden.

For more details check the Avenue of Honour website:
https://honouringouranzacs.com.au/people/details/2984

Lest We Forget

Cemetery details:
https://connect.dva.gov.au/commemsoawg/commemoration/viewCommemoration.html?commemorationId=NzI2MjUx

Newspaper article via TROVE:
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld) Tue 2 Oct 1917

Portrait photo via TROVE:
The Ballarat Courier Sat 6 Oct 1917

Macarthur Street Primary School

22/05/2026

Avenue Of Honour Committee members ready to answer your questions at the Heritage Festival in the Trench Room in Ballarat’s beautiful Town Hall.

18/05/2026

BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL

At the Ballarat Town Hall in the Trench Room – a display of the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour, as well as member of the committee to assist with finding your WW1 ANZAC, and a talk by the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour President Garry Snowden on 24 May 10:00am - 10:45am.

Learn about the history of the Ballarat Arch of Victory and the hidden stories of the soldiers and nurses it commemorates.

This committee preserves and promotes Ballarat’s Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour, commemorating thousands of World War I service personnel.

Part of the Voices of Ballarat program.

https://ballaratheritagefestival.com.au/explore/arch-of-victory-avenue-of-honour-committee

10/05/2026

Photos from this mornings Mother Day Service in the Garden if the Grieving Mother. Photos thanks to Marion Snowden.

27/04/2026

All are welcome to join us this Mother’s Day 💐

10am Sunday May 10th at the Garden of the Grieving Mother - Lay a wreath or floral tribute in memory of a special mother, and hear moving stories of those connected to the Avenue of Honour.

Located at the Arch of Victory in Sturt Street - the bronze statue at the heart of the garden is the work of prominent Australian sculptor Peter Corlett OAM.

25/04/2026

Arch of Victory - Avenue of Honour 2026 ANZAC Day service. Remembering the NZ in ANZAC

25/04/2026

Arch of Victory - Avenue of Honour 2026 ANZAC Day service. Remembering the NZ in ANZAC.

New Zealand High Commission Australia