Community Tree Planting

On the 25th August, 1917, local community members planted trees along a new avenue in Edwardstown. The first 8 trees were planted to commemorate those ‘who had already made the great sacrifice’ whilst the remaining trees represented those still fighting at the front. The avenue would be named Messines after the Battle of Messines which occurred in June of the same year. The initiative was developed by a Mrs Swift who had 5 sons serving.

Over time Messines Avenue became a site of parades, fundraising and actives to benefit the war effort. On February the 23rd 1946 the avenue was the site of a concert to celebrate the return of 500 servicemen from WW2. Today some of the trees still line both sides of the street in this industrial area.