Ryde Remembers

Red poppy on grey background

The Ryde Remembers 2014 - 2018 program came from the recommendations of the Centenary of ANZAC and Commemoration of World War I Committee. The purpose of the committee was to identify projects to commemorate our fallen heroes from World War I (1914-1918) and the families at home who supported them.

Ryde Remembers projects included the below:

Commemorative Services for Centenary of ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day

The Committee provided advice, research and volunteered their time to key commemorative dates of ANZAC Day, 25 April, and Remembrance Day, 11 November each year in the 100 year commemoration of WWI.

Interactive KIOSK and Website

Recognising over 2,000 local service men and women who served in WWI, showing name, rank, photos and other memorabilia, collated by the Ryde District Historical Society and Ryde Library. A dedicated Kiosk was located at the Ryde Library.

Restored honour roll

A pair of carefully restored WWI honour boards, dedicated to Eastwood and North Ryde war heroes, were fully restored and now hang in the public area of the City of Ryde Council Chambers, Level 1a, 1 Pope Street (above Ryde Library). 

Street Sign Project

22 street names in the local area with links to WWI received new identifying street signs referencing WWI. View a list of the streets that have been renamed.

The Battle of the Lone Pine

A symbolic planting of a lone pine tree in recognition of the fallen soldiers of the WWI Battle of Lone Pine (6 - 9 August 1915).

2,000 Poppies Project

Council's Centenary of Anzac tribute, where members of the community helped to create more than 2,000 hand-made Red Poppies. View more details

Smart Pole Street Banners

Each year of the WWI Commemoration since 2-14, the City of Ryde installed Smart Pole Street Banners to promote the "Ryde Remembers" activities surrounding ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

Relocation of the Memorial Book

The memorial book features one name per page, a service record number and date of death in the memory of those from Ryde who served. Now located pride of place in a special glass cabinet for all the enjoy at Ryde Library.

Remembrance Walk

Series of 12 commemorative plaques in Anzac Park, West Ryde, highlighting the history and involvement of residents of Ryde during WWI. This memorable service and the unveiling of the plaques were held at 9 am on ANZAC Day, Tuesday 25 April, 2017.

Anzac Day Flag Poles

Three new flag poles were installed at Anzac Park, West Ryde, as part of the final stage of the Remembrance Walk project. The popular Remembrance Walk was part of the Ryde Remembers initiative and features 12 commemorative plaques that highlight the history and involvement of Ryde residents during World War I.

Installation of an Armistice Plinth to Mark the End of WWI

On Sunday 11 November 2018, a plinth was installed at Memorial Park, Meadowbank to mark the Armistice and the day the guns fell silent ending World War I.

Calendar of Events 

The City of Ryde continues to hold Remembrance Day (11 November) and ANZAC Day (25 April) services each year to honour those that served.

Streets of the Ryde District named for WWI Soldiers and Events

View 2014 Anzac Street Signs(PDF, 982KB)

Amiens Street, Gladesville (previously Bay View Terrace)
A main town in the Somme region of northern France, the scene of a series of battles in 1916.

Anzac Avenue & Lane, Denistone/ West Ryde (previously Meriam Street)
Acronym of Australian New Zealand Army Corps.

Arras Parade, Ryde (previously Pearl Street)
Battle of Arras WWI - In 1917, a combined British and French attack on the German’s Hindenburg Line.

Beattie Avenue, Denistone East 
Admiral Beattie WWI - Battle of Jutland.

Beltana Street, Denistone
May have been named for the Immigrant ship “Beltana” which was used as a troop ship in WWI.

Berryman Street, North Ryde
Lieutenant-General Frank Berryman (1894-1991) served in both World Wars 1 and II. He was Chief of Staff at the surrender of the Japanese Army to the Australians at Morotai.

Birdwood Street, Denistone East (previously Falkner Street, Ryde)
General William Riddell Birdwood (1865-1951) was the British General in charge of the combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in WWI. He was in charge of Anzac Forces at Gallipoli and on the Western Front and was succeeded by Australian General Monash in 1918.

Blamey Street, North Ryde
Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey became the first Australian Army Officer to reach that rank. He was in the Gallipoli landing and was appointed Chief of Staff of the Australian Corps in 1918.

Chauvel Street, North Ryde
Named after General H.G. Chauvel, who lead the Australian Forces in Palestine, including the heroic cavalry charge at Beersheba in WWI

Chisholm Street, North Ryde
Named for Dame Alice Isobel Chisholm (1856-1954), welfare worker in WWI.

Diggers Avenue, Gladesville
Soldiers of WWI

Gaza Road/Lane, West Ryde (previously Railway Street)
During WWI the British Forces fought three major battles to capture Gaza, a city in Palestine, with success coming in October 1917.

Haig Avenue, Denistone East
Named after General Douglas Haig (1861-1928), Commander in Chief of the British Expeditionary Forces in Word War I.

Lavarack Street, Ryde
Lieutenant-General John Lavarack (1885-1957) served in France in WWI and commanded the 7th Division in WWII. He was Governor of Queensland from 1946-1957.

Monash Road, Gladesville
(previously Convent Rd, Government & Victoria Rds)

Named after General Sir John Monash (1865-1931). He commanded the 4th Infantry Brigade in the Gallipoli Landing and later in France. In 1918 he became the Commander of the Australian Corps.

Mons Avenue (previously Meadowbank Avenue)
The Battle of Mons in 1914 was part of WWI and was the first major battle between the British and German forces.

Morshead Street, North Ryde
Lieutenant-General Leslie Morshead served at Gallipoli in WWI and commanded the 9th Division at Tobruk in WWII.

Northcott Street, North Ryde
Lieutenant-General Sir John Northcott was wounded at Gallipoli in WWI and was Chief of General Staff in WWII. He was the first Australian-born Governor of NSW

Rowell Street, North Ryde
Lieutenant-General Sydney Rowell (1894-1975) was with the Light Horse at Gallipoli in WWI and served in Syria and Papua New Guinea during WWII.

Ryrie Street, North Ryde
Major-General Granville Ryrie (1865-1937) served in the Boer War, and at Gallipoli and Palestine in WWI.

Sturdee Street, North Ryde.
Lieutenant-General Vernon Sturdee (1890-1966) served at Gallipoli and France in WWI and in WWII was Chief of General Staff.

Walsh Street, Eastwood
James Francis Walsh (1895-1968) served at Gallipoli and was Mayor of Eastwood.

2,000 Poppies Project

Members of the community helped to create more than 2,000 hand-made Red Poppies as a tribute to Centenary of Anzac tribute, by knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching and crafting red poppies to remember someone who went to the First World War.

Since the First World War, the red poppy has been a traditional symbol of remembrance, recalling the fragile flower that bloomed in the battle fields of France and Gallipoli.

Poppy Notes

The project ran from November 2014 to Anzac Day 2015.

Download the brochure to view patterns, information and inspiration(PDF, 1MB)

For more information, download the 2,000 Poppies Project Information Sheet(PDF, 1MB).

City of Ryde thanks Ryde District Historical Society and Melbourne’s 5000 Poppies for their assistance.