The Avenue

Bacchus Marsh is a town about 50 kilometers west of Melbourne. The most renowned feature of the town, and the first thing visitors see is The Avenue of Honour. The Avenue is a plantation of dutch elms that serves as a tribute to locals who fought in World War I. The Avenue as it is seen today was originally planted on 10th of August 1918. This planting was made up of 281 trees which was linked to an earlier planting done in 1884 which has since been removed. The Avenue is approximately 3 kilometers long. 

I live a few kilometers outside the town center on a property over looking the town. Which means I see most of the Avenue. It has always been a large part of the landscape for me when I'm around outside.

I think of the Avenue as a living clock. I have never been one to keep track of time, using calenders with their days, months and seasons. Which probably reflects in my poor organisational skills.

The Avenue is like a calendar for me. The dutch elms are deciduous and whether they are naked, in bloom, losing their leaves or lush with green foliage, they always beautifully show the time of year.

My favourite season of the year would have to be Autumn. This is when the foliage becomes a nice golden colour, and starts to form a blanket on either sides of the road. There is also always a constant shower of leaves as they fall from the trees. A pleasure to drive through which will only get better in the near future when I get my hands on a 1970's Holden Premier :)

I think the government has done a good job in maintaining the Avenue. And hopefully it will out last me.

References

Bacchus Marsh Heritage Guide 2003, second edition, Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc, Bacchus Marsh.