Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway facts for kids
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a special walking path in Concord West, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's located right by the water at Brays Bay, on the Parramatta River. This walkway is a unique way to remember the brave Australian soldiers who fought in World War II during the Papua-New Guinea campaign. This important campaign happened from July 1942 to January 1943.
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Exploring the Memorial Walkway
The walkway is over 800 metres long. It stretches from the Concord Repatriation General Hospital all the way to Rhodes railway station. As you walk, you'll find 22 special information stations or plaques. These stations have an audio story you can listen to. Each one tells about an important place or battle from the campaign. You can read, see photos, maps, and even hear interviews.
Learning About the Kokoda Campaign
There's also an Educational Resource Centre along the path. Here, you can learn even more about the events that happened during the Papua-New Guinea campaign. You can also find out about special events held at the Walkway each year.
The Centrepiece and Jungle Experience
At the very middle of the walkway, you'll see several granite walls. These walls have images from the New Guinea Campaign carved into them. A beautiful waterfall flows next to these granite walls, making up the main Centrepiece.
The area around the walkway has been planted with lots of tropical plants. This makes it feel like you are walking through the real Kokoda Track. A wooden boardwalk, made from Mangrove timber, winds through this simulated jungle.
Peaceful Rose Garden Entrance
The entrance to the walkway features a lovely rose garden. There are two curved memorial walls here, surrounded by beds of roses. On these walls, you'll find plaques that remember individuals who served in the war. The walkway connects to the Rose Garden through the Bruce Kingsbury V.C. Path. This path is named after a very brave soldier.
How the Walkway Was Built
Work on the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway began in 1994. It was designed by DM Taylor Landscape Architect Pty Ltd. The walkway officially opened on October 3, 1996. The Hon Bruce Scott MP opened it to the public.
Gallery
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Rose garden
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Plaques within the rose garden
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Memorial centrepiece with granite walls & fountain
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Granite wall showing scenes from the battle
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Stream Showing simulated jungle environment
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One of the 22 stations along the walkway
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Relief plaque of Papua New Guinea
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One part of the Memorial Walkway Path
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Kokoda Education Centre
Images for kids
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Ralph Honner Education Centre and Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel statue
