Each year on November 11, Australians pause to remember those who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The date marks the armistice that ended hostilities on the Western Front in 1918, the moment when, after four long years of the Great War, the guns fell silent at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

In the years that followed, communities across Australia began holding ceremonies to mark the anniversary, gathering to reflect, mourn and give thanks for peace. Daylesford was among them, and the report from The Daylesford Advocate of November 11, 1919, provides a vivid record of how the town commemorated the first Armistice anniversary.

From The Daylesford Advocate, Tuesday 11 November 1919:

The first anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended hostilities in connection with the Great War was impressively celebrated In Daylesford this morning.

A large crowd composed of returned soldiers, school children and citizens assembled in front of the Town HaII at 10 minutes to 11, when the Mayor (Cr C.R. Marshall) read the King’s message. He then briefly referred to the deeds of Australian soldiers, and to the memory of the gallant dead. They could not do too much for the returned men, and all should work together in harmony to making this country the finest in the world.

Rev W.H. Guard offered up a short Prayer, the gathering repeating the Lord’s Prayer. At 11 o’clock flags were struck to half mast, the assembly standing with bowed heads in honour of the fallen.

The Last Post was then sounded by Mr F. West (conductor of the Daylesford Citizens’ Band).

WELCOME HOME

The welcome home social to Daylesford soldiers takes place in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. Hons E.Jowett and D. McLeod and Brigadier General Brand will be present. Donations of cakes etc. are requested by the ladies committee.

DEDICATION OF AVENUE OF HONOR

On Saturday next, November 15th, the above ceremony will take place at the entrance to the Avenue, opposite the railway station in Raglan Street, when the committee hopes to see a large attendance of the general public.

Mr Edmund Jowett, the Hon. D. McLeod, and Brigadier General Brand, the State Commandant, will take part in the proceedings. The General, accompanied by Mrs. Brand, will arrive by the morning train, and will remain in Daylesford over the weekend. At 2 p. m. he will visit the R.S. & S.A. Institute, to make the acquaintance of the Daylesford Boys, after which a short visit will be paid to the Drill Hall to view the Senior Cadet parade, followed by an inspection of the Vocational Training School, and thence to the Town Hall to meet the Borough Council.

His Worship the Mayor will welcome the visitors, read the list of names of the boys for whom trees have been planted, followed by short addresses by Mr Jowett, the Hon. D. McLeod, and General Brand, who will also, in conjunction with the representatives of the Ministers’ Association of the town, dedicate the Avenue, after which the Mayoress will cut the ribbon and declare the Avenue open. The Visitors and Ladies’ Committee will then traverse the Avenue to Sullivan’s Lane and return to the Town Hall where Mrs Brand will be entertained at afternoon tea by the Ladies Committee.

As the proceedings will be carried out to time table it is earnestly requested that all those to whom positions have been allotted will be in their appointed places to schedule. If motor car owners who are willing to assist in the conveyance of visitors and ladies would hand their names to His Worship the Mayor by Thursday night, to enable him to allocate the guests, he would be glad.

As the Avenue has been extended to the borough boundary, and there are a number of boys still to have trees planted in their honour, the committee will shortly decide when the extension is to be made.

Remembrance Day Services, Tuesday 11 November 2025

More than a century later, the people of Daylesford and district continue to gather in remembrance of those who served.

Daylesford
10:45am for 11:00am, Daylesford Cenotaph
Deputy Mayor Cr Hewitt will attend.

Creswick
10:25 arrival for 10:40am start, Fallen Soldiers Memorial, Cnr Raglan and Albert Streets.
Followed by light refreshments at the RSL Hall.
Mayor Cr Don Henderson will attend.

Kingston
10:30am arrival for 10:45am start, Kingston Cenotaph, Corner Victoria Road and Kingston Road.
Cr Shirley Cornish and Cr Tim Drylie will attend.

Clunes
10:50am, Clunes Cenotaph, Cnr Fraser and Service Streets.
Cr Pat Hockey will attend.

Trentham
10:45am, Trentham Cenotaph, High Street.
Cr Brian Hood will attend.