The first Honour Avenue was dedicated to 404 fallen soldiers in August 1919 on the fifth anniversary of the outbreak of World War I.
The Returned and Services League (RSL) accepted responsibility for the maintenance and preservation of the plaques along Kings Park's Honour Avenues in 1922. This responsibility was delegated to the RSL's West Perth Sub-Branch, later known as the Public Service Sub-Branch, which amalgamated with the Press Sub-Branch in 1973. In 1976, it combined with the Highgate Sub-Branch which assumed responsibility for the plaques.
After World War II, many requests were received by Kings Park to dedicate additional trees to Servicemen and women who had died at war. The Kings Park Board asked the RSL to arrange a dedication ceremony for three hundred sugar gums in Lovekin Avenue.
The RSL Sub-Branch formed a committee to allocate the trees and arranged the service. The committee consisted of Messrs. LJ Parkes, President, AM Brice, Secretary, WL Boyd, Treasurer and HB Hayles, MJ Offer and Secretary of the Kings Park Board JE Watson as Members. On 5th December 1948 in Lovekin Drive before a very large gathering, His Grace the Archbishop of Perth Dr RWH Moline MC DD dedicated the avenue to the memory of those who fell in World War II. His Excellency the Governor Sir James Mitchell GCMG also attended. The total number of plaques required for this dedication could not be produced in time and consequentially additional, smaller ceremonies were held in 1950 and 1952. Dedication ceremonies are now held four times a year for approved plaques.
Marri Walk was recently added as an additional location to the Honour Avenues. Marri Walk is a roadway adjacent to Plaque No. 191 on May Drive, that leads to the Royal Kings Park Tennis Club.
Honour Avenue Database
There are over 1400 memorial plaques along the Honour Avenues in Kings Park. The database holding specific details on each plaque has been temporarily removed from this website to be updated. If you are trying to locate a memorial dedicated to a particular person, or are searching for the location of a memorial, please contact the Honour Avenues Group.
Applications for New Plaques
The criteria to apply for a new plaque are:
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The person must be listed on the State War Memorial in Kings Park.
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The person must have died overseas on active service and is buried overseas or has no known grave.
- The person must have enlisted in Western Australia.
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The application must provide the number, name, rank, service and place and date of death of the person.