Kingston Avenue of Honour

18/08/2026

On 18 August each year, Australia pauses to remember the 60,000 men and women who served in the Vietnam War. In 2026, we mark the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

Vietnam Veterans Day honours the service and sacrifice of all Australians who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, and acknowledges the difficult homecoming many veterans faced on their return.

Kingston, Friends of the Avenue Inc. acknowledge Vietnam Veterans Day and remember those from the district who served, in particular Jeffrey Donald McMillan, who was a longtime resident of Allendale and Broomfield and founding member of Kingston Friends of the Avenue in 1998.

Jeff McMillan was born on the 23 May 1945 and joined the Australian Army in 1966. In 1967 he went to Vietnam with 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

After returning to Australia, he became President of Creswick-Smeaton RSL in 1975 and remained President until 2005. He remained President for over 30 years.

Jeff was one of the first Vietnam Veterans in Australia to hold the post of President of an RSL branch.

Lest we forget.

16/08/2026

Please note that a section of Kingston Road from Church Parade to Alcorns Road will have traffic management in place Tuesday 18 August from approximately 7.30am to 1.30pm, due to filming of a commercial. A permit has been granted by Hepburn Shire Council, and the production company kindly made a donation to support the Avenue of Honour at Kingston.

Traffic will be held temporarily while filming is taking place, so you may wish to allow extra time, or take an alternative route.

14/08/2026

Friday 10 August 2018 was the centenary of the first planting of the Kingston Avenue of Honour. A commemorative tree was planted to recognise the contributions of people and horses in World War I. The Hon. Catherine King MP recognised these contributions and performed the official planting ceremony. Catherine King was assisted by the great-great-nephews of William John Grigg, who survived the Light Horse Charge at the Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917.

We were pleased to have so many members of the community and local schools who joined us on that sunny but very windy day!

10/08/2026

Today marks the 108th Anniversary of the first planting of the Creswick Shire Avenue of Honour at Kingston.

On 10 August 1918 the first 225 trees were planted, honouring servicemen and servicewomen who had enlisted in the Great War. The planting was funded and organised by the community. Volunteers dug 225 holes prior to the event. On planting day, all 225 trees were planted by relatives, employers and members of the community, then tree guards and name plates were installed. The Red Cross provided refreshments.

We are fortunate to have photos representing this important historical event.

The first photograph depicts Mrs May (nee Tait) and a friend at the first tree planting. The caption on the reverse of the photo reads: "This is mother and Gwen up at the tree planting. Doesn't mother look most gracious." Mrs May (right) had three sons in the war: Archie, Douglas and Henry May, honoured by Trees East 7, East 8 & East 9. Douglas died of wounds at Polygon Wood, Ypres, Belgium age 23. Archie and Henry returned home in 1919.

William Boadle's tree, West 51, is shown here with its original wooden tree guard and enamel plaque. William Boadle from Smeaton enlisted in 1915 at 18 years of age. He was twice admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds. William Boadle was discharged in 1919 with the rank of Lance Corporal.

04/08/2026

We wish to thank the many volunteers and contributors who assisted with our Community Rally on Sunday. It couldn't have happened without you all. We also offer our sincere thanks to all attendees, your presence was much appreciated.

Many thanks for the support we received from the following organisations and groups:
Hepburn Shire Council
Kwik Kopy
Palmer Hire
The Commercial at Kingston
Terry Hope Productions
Brewing Lane Studios (Robt Haughie)
The Local
Creswick-Smeaton RSL Sub-Branch
Kingston Agricultural Society
Kingston Fire Brigade
The Kingston Sizzlers

Huge thanks to our many volunteers for undertaking all sorts of tasks before, during and after the event. All the hard work was much appreciated, including everyone who set up and packed up! We had a few unusual tasks on this one, so special thanks to:
Drew & Kas – for site preparation
Jamie Allen – for setting up the bale entrance
Kain Richardson – for providing the truck stage (and adding the steps!)
Lindsay Cooke – for videography and photos
Neil Adam and Judy Turner – for sharing their music
Scott Williams – Master of Ceremonies

Many thanks also to:
Those who distributed the flyers, posters and corflute signs
The many people who put signs on their fences
The many local businesses who supported us by displaying posters
Those who called ABC Radio etc.
The Masquerade Ball organisers and the One Beat, Many Voices organisers for the opportunity to promote the rally
Everyone who helped get the word out
Everyone who came along
Everyone who got in touch to offer support and encouragement
And anyone else we may have missed!

Please keep following our page for videos and more photos from the rally. We will also share news, including plans for the 110th Centenary of the Avenue in 2028.

03/08/2026

Many thanks to the nearly 300 people who attended Sunday's Defending Kingston Avenue Community Rally, it was wonderful to have such positive community support for our trees and for the people they represent. Special thanks to our guest speakers, who shared a range of perspectives, but all with a respect and understanding of our Avenue. We heard moving tributes to relatives represented in the Avenue of Honour, a deep appreciation of the Avenue and the trees, concern for the welfare of future visitors to the Avenue, and a true understanding of the importance of keeping the Avenue as a living memorial into the future.

Many thanks to Terry Hope for his photo of our wonderful speakers (left to right): Julie Baulch, Caitlin Grieve, Darcy Gervasoni, Cass Rochaix, Michael Taffe, Scott Williams (MC), Ruth Ord Evans and Kain Richardson.

02/08/2026

Kingston, Friends of the Avenue Inc. were overwhelmed by the community support for our rally on 2 August 2026 opposing AusNet's proposal to use the Avenue of Honour as their industrial transport route for the Western Renewables Link. Many thanks to all who attended, volunteered and/or helped spread the word.

We were honoured by the attendance of relatives of soldiers and nurses represented in the Avenue, however we know that not everybody was able to attend. We were grateful for the following message of support from Jenny Avery from Bowraville NSW:
Protect Kingston Avenue of Honour
The Kingston Avenue of Honour is more than a beautiful avenue of trees. It is a sacred place of remembrance, honouring the men and women who left their families to serve our country.

My grandfather Phillip Davies, and his two brothers are among those remembered here. Imagine the grief of the families who planted and cared for these trees while mourning loved ones who never came home. Many lie in foreign lands, and from reading Peter Rickard’s book, of the 283 people represented in the Avenue, 54 have no known grave. For those families, these trees became a place of remembrance—a small piece of Australian soil where their sacrifice would never be forgotten.

Many of those commemorated were little more than teenagers. Their names live on through these trees, which stand as living memorials to their courage and sacrifice. Any threat to them is more than the loss of trees—it is a desecration of a war memorial and a profound disrespect to those who served and to the families who honoured them.

Australian law recognises the significance of war memorials. Deliberately damaging a war memorial can attract penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment. It is hoped that such penalties are never needed, and that respect, common sense and pride in our history will ensure the Kingston Avenue of Honour is protected for generations to come.

The Davies family portrait is of my grandfather Phillip, his wife Sarah, my aunt Gwen and my father Peter.

Jenny Avery, Bowraville NSW - P. E. Davies Tree West 29

01/08/2026

Faces of the Avenue
Archie May - Tree Number East 9

Archie May was born in Newlyn in 1891.

Archie May enlisted in 1915, serving in the Middle East and on the Western Front. His brothers also served in the Great War. Archie May and his brother Henry Vickery May returned to Australia in 1919. Their brother Douglas George May died of wounds received at Ypres, Belgium in 1917.

The May family was one of many (including the Davies family from Wednesday's Faces of the Avenue) who sent more than one son to serve in the Great War.

Many of the people represented in the Avenue still have relatives living locally or interstate, who come to visit their trees and honour them. We are grateful that the Avenue of Honour continues to be relevant, and we advocate for it to be given the respect it deserves, acknowledging the importance of the health of the trees and the safety of visitors.

01/08/2026

Please join us at 11am tomorrow for our rally defending the Avenue of Honour at Kingston (3364). Thank you for your support, Kingston Agricultural Society.

Reminder to join us at the Kingston Avenue of Honour Community Rally tomorrow.

📆 Sunday 2 August
⏰ 11.00am - 12.30pm
📍Meet at the Midland Highway end of the Kingston Ave of Honour at the corner of Kingston Road and Morrisons Road (Kingston, VIC 3364)
🗺️ https://maps.app.goo.gl/2EofnN98CrYy4C2U6

The proposed Ausnet transmission project has raised significant concerns within our community, particularly due to its planned industrial corridor through the heritage-listed Kingston Avenue of Honour.

This rally is an opportunity for the community to come together, stand in support of protecting this important local landmark, and demonstrate how much it means to the people of Kingston and beyond.

Everyone is welcome. Bring your family, friends and neighbours and join us as we stand together for our community and its heritage.