Kingston Friends of the Avenue (KFOA) have received a $46,000 grant from the Victorian State Government and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the Kingston Avenue of Honour.
The grant will enable urgent works to begin on some of the trees identified by the recently adopted Homewood Consultancy Group Tree Management Plan. Grant money will also be used to replace 27 plaques and 15 plaque mounts. In addition, soil testing will be funded on trees that are in decline.
Works on the identified trees will be overseen by the Hepburn Shire Council who assisted the KFOA in preparing this grant application.
The grant was awarded under the State Government and Victorian Veteran’s Council ‘Victoria Remembers Minor Grant Program’ which funds projects that honour and commemorate veterans’ service and educates Victorians about veterans’ contributions.
Minister for Veterans, Natalie Suleyman and local MP Martha Haylett celebrate with the Kingston Avenue of Honour committee and Cr Tim Drylie from Hepburn Shire Council.
The Avenue was started in August 1918 to commemorate the World War I service of men and women of the former Shire of Creswick. Kingston at the time was the centre of the Creswick Shire and included shire offices and the town hall. Future plantings over the following year took the Avenue to 286 trees. Enamel name plaques were secured to wooden tree guards protecting the young trees.
The Avenue itself is worth the short diversion off the Midland Highway but a visit to the historic Commercial @ Kingston Hotel is also well worth a visit and a stop for a beverage or a meal. The Hotel now houses the ‘Kingston Remembers’ Resource Centre, a collection of WW I memorabilia and an honour roll of those who served and are commemorated in the Avenue.
The Hotel is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. The Avenue is open 24/7.
