The Sydney suburb of Matraville contains many streets named after significant locations where ANZACs fought during World War One. Anzac Parade is a major Sydney artery. It was named in 1917 to commemorate the occasion when the AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) camped at Kensington Racecourse and paraded down that road on their way to embark for overseas service. Others streets include Amiens, Ypres, Pozieres, Menin, Flanders, Amiens, Bullecourt, Bapaume, Hamel, Armentieres. The local public school is called Soldiers Settlement.
I especially like the blue plates, commemorating in French the significance of the name, and reminiscent of the street name plates of France.
From the Randwick City Council web site:
"In 1917 a gift of 72.5 acres of Crown land, described as 'the waste sand hills beyond Daceyville, was made available for returned soldiers from World War I. A Voluntary Workers Association formed and between 1918 and 1925 some 93 homes were built, south west of Anzac Parade and Beauchamp Road, as the Matraville Soldiers' Garden Village... The houses eventually passed to the State Housing Board. In 1977 despite local protests, all but one of the cottages was demolished and the site redeveloped. The surrounding streets recall battlefields and sites of World War I."
Sally, what a great post for Bastille Day. I really liked that the land was given to returned soldiers and was then appalled to read they were later demolished. Progress!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day, dear Sally - love from France and come back soon!!
Thanks for this special post, Sally. How nice of you !
ReplyDeleteVery much appreciated !
Love from France
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ReplyDeleteI am delighted the streets are named after the critical locations of the French battles: Amiens, Ypres, Pozieres, Menin, Flanders, Amiens, Bullecourt etc. School students will know the ANZAC name, of course, but I wonder how much they will know of the other important names.
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