The Remembrance Driveway is a living memorial to those who served in the Second World War, and in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping missions in which Australia has been involved. It consists of numerous memorial plantations, parks, and rest areas, located along the Hume and Federal Highways between Sydney and Canberra.
The memorial areas are often accompanied by signage, or bushrocks with plaques attached. The plaques are generally inscribed with dedications to servicemen and women, and the name of the business or organisation who originally sponsored the grove, or is responsible for its maintenance.
Brief history
The Driveway was first launched on 5 February 1954, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. On that day, the royal couple planted two trees in Macquarie Place Park, on the corner of Bridge and Loftus Streets, in the Sydney CBD. The ceremonial spades used for this special occasion are shown in the images above. They are housed at the Sydney Town Hall.
In 1995, a stone plinth was installed in the park, with a plaque explaining the significance of the trees. This was part of the 'Australia Remembers' campaign, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In 2022, the trees still stand proudly in the park.
Detailed information about the Remembrance Driveway and its history can be found on the Transport for NSW website.
Individual memorials
The NSW War Memorials Register holds listings for some of the plantations and bushrock memorials along the Driveway. These are listed in the 'Related memorials' section below.
If you are interested in the segment of the Driveway that runs through Berrima, NSW, please refer to the listing for the Berrima Remembrance Grove.