Memorial Avenue

As part of an Arbor Day in 1915 the first avenue of trees was planted…

At 1 o'clock the school children had an arbor day, and planted trees in the school yard and in the showground. 

Three trees were planted by Mr. Thomson, Mr. Tamblyn (head teacher), and Miss Stibbles (assistant teacher), in memory of two old scholars—Privates A. H. Bax and E. H. Jenzen—and General Birdwood, who were killed with the Australians on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Patriotic songs were sung by the children, the flag was saluted, and Mr. Thomson then declared a half-holiday….

…. At 1.30 a number of townspeople attended at the showground, where a row of nine trees was planted by the children attending the Mount Pleasant school.

With time the trees needed attention and eventually removal. This involved much discussion

During 1936…Councillor Herriot then explained the position regarding the avenue of trees leading to the showgrounds and pointed out the danger and inconvenience caused by the trees. As representative of the ward in the council, he was not prepared to take the responsibility of removing the trees himself and therefore had suggested that the matter should be referred to the meeting. Opposition was expressed to the course, on the grounds that such an action would destroy the town's chief beauty spot; but it was finally resolved to recommend to the council to have the trees removed.

In 1937…The matter of the removal of the trees in the avenue to the showgrounds was again revived in accordance with a minute at the December meeting, and councillors considered the matter from every angle finally resolving that a public meeting be again called and confined to councillors and ratepayers of the wards most directly interested. The meeting is to take place in the Soldiers' Memorial Hall on May 7.

The members representing the five wards in the District Council of Mount Pleasant met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday morning and pressure of business kept them engaged until a late hour in the evening. A final settlement was reached in the matter of the avenue of pine trees leading to the show grounds. Councillors expressed disappointment at the lack of interest in ratepayers' meeting, held on Friday to deal with this matter.

Present—Crs. A. L. Starkey (chair), P. T. Miller, D. Stow Smith, C. A. Baensch, A. H. Paech, and the clerk (Mr. W. Ross Smith).

After a long discussion, finality was reached in the matter of the avenue of pines leading to the showgrounds, the removal of which has been the subject of many meetings and debates and on the motion of Cr. Stow Smith, seconded by Cr. Miller, it was resolved that certain of the mis-shapen trees be removed without delay. Crs. Starkey, Stow Smith, and the clerk were deputed to make an inspection and decide which trees should be removed. Instructions given to the clerk to write the Woods and Forests Department, inquiring what trees could be planted in ground previously occupied by pines.

After a great deal of very careful consideration and a good deal of enquiry, the council have decided upon the removal of the pine and elm trees leading from the main road to the show grounds. These trees, it was stated, are definitely past their prime and the avenue will be replanted with other ornamental trees.

 Cr. Stow Smith reported that the Mt. Pleasant R.S.L. would like permission to erect a plaque opposite the post office leading to the show ground were planted by the Mount Pleasant sub-branch.— Permission granted.

The RSL then replanted in 1940, although the erection of a plaque commemorating this did not eventuate. These trees may have been donated by Dr Cowling who had moved to Mount Pleasant during the 1930s and became involved in many community groups in the town. (Dr Cowling's daughter recounted this event.)

By early 2000s the trees were once again past their prime and so investigation was made by the local RSL to remove the pine trees and replant with a more suitable tree, eventually deciding upon the Claret Ash. Replanting  in 2003 found that the ground was mostly hard stone below which is probably why the trees struggled, and these trees had to be replanted in May-June 2005. These trees remain today. A stone memorial and bench seat was put in place at the entrance to Memorial Avenue from Melrose Street in 2011-2012.