Avenue of honour

The Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh.

Avenue of Honour is the term given to a memorial avenue of trees, with each tree symbolising a person.

The tradition, which originated in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia is an important part of Australian culture.

Most avenues are in remembrance of those who fought or died war, particularly the Great War - World War I (1914–1918), from the town in which the avenue was planted. Since soldiers were grouped by the place they were recruited, a military defeat often meant all of the men of eligible age from the town were killed in the same battle. Many of the avenue's trees include metal plaques naming the victims.

Many of these avenues now feature large, established trees and exotic species.

Several of these avenues are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, most others are afforded local levels of heritage protection through the various Local government in Australia and the National Trust of Australia however many such avenues have since been affected by road development.

State Significant Avenues

Victory Arch at the entrance to the Avenue of Honour, Ballarat

• Ballarat (Alfredton, Cardigan and Cardigan Village, Ballarat-Burrumbeet Road C805) - oldest (1917) and largest (22 kilometres & 3,912 trees), along with the Arch of Victory
• Bacchus Marsh Road, Bacchus Marsh
• Eurack
• Macedon-Wooden Road, Shire of Macedon Ranges

Other Victorian Avenues of Honour

• Honour Avenue, Macedon, Shire of Macedon Ranges
• Booroopki
• Lysterfield
• Lakes Entrance
• Woodend North
• Buchan South
• Hotspur
• Daylesford,

Avenues of Honour outside Victoria

• O'Connell, New South Wales
• Cowra, New South Wales
• Albany, Western Australia
• Armadale, Western Australia
• Hobart, Tasmania