Pioneer Women's Memorial Avenue facts for kids
The Pioneer Women's Memorial Avenue is a special place in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. It celebrates the amazing things women did to help build and develop the area.
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A Special Tribute to Pioneer Women
The Pioneer Women's Memorial Avenue was first created in 1936. This was 100 years after Bacchus Marsh was settled. The local group of the Country Women's Association (CWA) had the idea.
Planting the First Trees
They planted many Claret Ash trees along the Western Highway. Each tree was planted to honor a specific pioneer woman. The CWA provided the trees. The local council helped by planting them. People in the community donated money to pay for special plaques with each woman's name.
A total of 276 trees were planted. Each tree represented a woman who was born or lived in the area before 1890. It was important that both Indigenous Kulin women and white women were honored equally.
What Happened to the Original Trees?
Over time, many of the original trees did not survive. By 1995, a report from the Victorian Heritage Register showed that only about 15 to 17 of the first trees were still standing.
Bringing the Memorial Back to Life
In 2008, the Bacchus Marsh CWA decided to bring the memorial back to life. They applied for and received money from the state government and the Shire of Moorabool council. This money helped them re-develop the memorial.
New Features at Stamford Hill
As part of the re-development, a rotunda and a monument were added at Stamford Hill. A rotunda is a round building, often with a dome-shaped roof. The one here has information boards that tell the stories of the women honored in the avenue.
These new additions were officially revealed in a ceremony on August 2, 2008. In December 2009, the Moorabool council even nominated the CWA's work on the rotunda for the "Community Event of the Year" award.
Sharing Their Stories
To make sure the stories of these women were remembered, the Bacchus Marsh CWA published a book in 2015. This book contains biographies, or life stories, of all the women honored in the avenue. It helps everyone learn about their important contributions.
