Avenue’s powerful tribute to fallen, celebrated a century on

Published 05 December 2025

• City of Moreton Bay will celebrate the centenary of the historic Anzac Memorial Avenue this weekend
• The road between Petrie and Redcliffe was officially opened on 5 December 1925 and honoured fallen soldiers from World War One
• The Avenue remains a vital piece of infrastructure in City of Moreton Bay to this day

Sir,

I have lately received word of the death of my youngest eligible son, Pte C Munro…He is the second of three boys to be killed.

With those opening lines, Jane Munro began her final plea to bring her last surviving son on the frontlines home.

It was one that had already fallen on deaf ears by the then Minister for Defence. Now, she would appeal to the better angels of General Sir William Birdwood, Commander of the Australian Corps.

Three months later, on August 21, 1918, the grieving mother’s wish was granted.

After enduring the horrors of the Western Front as an unarmed stretcher bearer, the blood, the bodies and the screams of dying men cut down in a senseless conflict would soon be a distant memory for 19-year-old Lance Corporal Edward Munro.

The boy from Burpengary was coming home.

His brothers, Private Christian Munro and Second Lieutenant James Munro, would never return.

Today, the sacrifice of Queensland’s fallen heroes is honoured via the road from Petrie to Redcliffe – Anzac Memorial Avenue.

100 years on from its official opening, City of Moreton Bay’s Redcliffe Museum will celebrate the milestone this weekend with a special presentation by historian Helen V. Smith.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the Avenue was a beloved part of Moreton Bay’s rich history.

“111 years ago, Australia sent her finest to fight in what would later become known as the war to end all wars. The enormity of their sacrifice galvanised the people of Moreton Bay and drove them to find a way to honour those who never returned. The result is a piece of infrastructure that has stood the test of time,” he said. 

“If not for the vision of Thomas Rothwell and the overwhelming support of the public, it may have been some years before this transformative piece of infrastructure was realised.

“Today, Anzac Avenue stands as a lasting tribute to the sacrifice our Queensland’s servicemen. Lest We Forget.”

Division 7 Councillor Yvonne Barlow said the Avenue served as a potent reminder of the price of freedom Australians enjoy today.

“We should never forget the men from Moreton Bay who answered our Country’s call in the dark days of the First World War,” she said.

“Few projects in the history of Moreton Bay have galvanised our proud community quite like Anzac Avenue. It endures today as testament to our City’s fallen sons and the veterans who helped build it all those years ago.”

First proposed by Royal Automobile Club of Queensland President Thomas J Rothwell in 1921 as a way to honour fallen soldiers of the First World War while providing a critical motor transport link between Redcliffe and Petrie, the project would soon attract enormous support from the local community.

Setting a fundraising goal of 20,000 pounds to build the Avenue, 1000 pounds was pledged by locals following an inaugural public meeting to discuss the project in 1922, which eventually increased to 7000 pounds with later pledges.

Another 12,000 pounds would eventually come from the State and Federal governments, with total expenditure exceeding 30,000 pounds.

Ms Smith said Rothwell’s contribution was critical to seeing the project come to fruition.

“Rothwell’s activities during the war as secretary of the Patriotic Fund, coordinator of the Returned Soldiers Transport Corps and activities with the RACQ and later as President of the RACQ meant he had the ability to interact with government, business and the required people to get things done,” she said.

“He also had the foresight to see how the Memorial Avenue would serve many purposes from getting a road, work for the returned servicemen, whose rallying cry of “Work not Charity” by the Returned Services League was important.

“It was a way of honouring the men lost and also, of course providing a good road to enhance the use of the motor car the usage of which had nearly doubled between 1921-1923.”

Rothwell’s contributions were acknowledged following his passing with a memorial erected in 1933 and a suburb established after his namesake in 1971.

Some 1700 trees would eventually be planted in honour of the fallen along the Avenue. Members of the public were able to purchase a tree subscription of one pound per tree, complete with a certificate.

Officially opened on 5 December 1925 by then Acting Premier William Forgan Smith, the Avenue has endured significant change in the decades since.

The rich history of the Avenue will be extensively covered by Ms Smith at the Redcliffe Museum celebration, with topics including Thomas Rothwell and his impact, the importance of the Memorial Avenue as a living heritage memorial and the work done by the Anzac Memorial Avenue Centenary Committee.

“The Avenue is a living heritage and continued acknowledgement of Queenslanders’ military service and sacrifice, made even more so as initial labour was done by returned servicemen” she said.

“While the original Avenue has not survived in its entirety, and parts of it are not always in exactly the same place as the original, what has survived is the community spirit and intent of honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

In 2013, Council unveiled 23 markers along ANZAC Avenue, providing greater insight into the conflicts highlighted along the memorial trail.

The markers provide an historic account of each conflict, and a greater understanding of the battles fought by Australian and New Zealand troops – including several key conflicts from the First World War.