Conservation Management Plan - Ballarat Avenue of Honour and Arch of Victory

This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has been prepared for the Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory located within the City of Ballarat. This site, as a living memorial, honours local men and women who enlisted from Ballarat and surrounding areas for service during the Great War of 1914-1918.

This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has been prepared for the Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory located within the City of Ballarat. This site, as a living memorial, honours local men and women who enlisted from Ballarat and surrounding areas for service during the Great War of 1914-1918.

Following a detailed review of the history of the Avenue and Arch and a comparative analysis of other commemorative avenues and arches from the Great War period, a new statement of local heritage significance has been developed in this CMP to clearly identify the important heritage values that are embodied in these sites and which require protection. At the local level, the Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory is highly significant to the Ballarat community because it exemplifies the efforts made by the local population to commemorate those who had enlisted for service. It remains a strong reminder of this part of Victoria’s history and the impact of the Great War on a rural community. 

It is clear there are significant development pressures occurring around the Avenue of Honour and Arch of Victory. A detailed assessment has been made of the various issues that are affecting the heritage significance of this site, focussing on: the integrity of the Avenue; the critical connection between the trees and individual soldiers, sailors and nurses; the arrangement and continuity of the trees and plaques; replanting programs and tree species, the visual and aesthetic quality of the Avenue; the scale of physical interruptions/intrusions and visual breaks along the Avenue; streetscaping and landscaping treatments; pedestrian access; interpretation and future research; and maintenance regimes.