Running between Honour Avenue and Berry Street, the Weinholt Street Avenue of Honour is located in Sherwood, a western suburb of the City of Brisbane.
Lined with the beautiful, long-lived tree species, Callistemon ‘Dawson River’, native to the local Queensland area, the species has a weeping habit, specifically chosen to represent the tears of the mothers, of fallen soldiers in World War II.
There are a total of twelve (12) residential dwellings on the northern side of the street and eleven (11) residential dwellings on the southern side of this short, tree -lined street.
The majority of dwellings were constructed prior to 1946 and predominantly typical of the Queenslander ‘tin and timber’ construction style. Three small lot, ‘tin and timber’ dwellings, designed to complement the existing heritage streetscape, were constructed sometime later (approx mid 1900s).
Prior to the introduction of universal sewerage connection for all throughout Brisbane, it was compulsory for the setback of houses to be at least 20 yards (~ 18m), from the front property boundary.
A coincidental benefit of this local area planning law, is the space and protection afforded to trees located on street verges. The Weinholt Avenue memorial trees, therefore able to flourish.
Enjoy listening to the following local radio interview, Remembrance Day, 11th November 2014:
Originally pollarded on an annual basis by the local Council,
the location of these trees did not spare them the unfortunate previous practice of ‘lopping’ in latter years for powerline clearance.
A current programme of ongoing restorative pruning, carried out on behalf of power service provider, Energex, and replacement planting carried out by Brisbane City Council for a small number of trees lost in storms, has assisted greatly in the management of the
Weinholt Street Avenue of Honour.
This helps to ensure it will be enjoyed not only by current residents, but valued by future generations.
Images: Glenn Williams
History
Weinholt Street is named in honour of Mr Arnold Wienholt (also spelt Weinholt), early pioneer and owner of several large rural land holdings. His properties extended from western QLD, to the district of Boonah and to his town house located at 24 Weinholt Street which, it is understood, gave him a place to reside whilst attending to his business interests and parliamentary duties in Brisbane.
Dominated by the avenue of Callistemon viminalis var. ‘Dawson River’ (weeping bottle brush trees), historical records show the existing street scape was planted at the end of World War II. These records are supported by the verbal history handed down through generations of families who resided in Weinholt Street and it is a matter of record that the planting of these trees by all property owners in the street at the time was instigated and co-ordinated by the owner of the property located at 19 Weinholt Street, Mr Keefer.
Evidence to support the date of planting has been gathered from long term residents and property owners, as well as from information contained in local historical records and recorded in published books such as ‘The Eccentric Mr Weinholt’ by Rosamond Siemon, author of The Mayne Inheritance.
By all accounts Mr Weinholt was a colourful gentleman; a land owner, parliamentarian, soldier and even spy, which has led to some conjecture and even confusion about the origin or intent of the memorial aspect attributed to these trees. Mr Wienholt is described in the summation of the aforementioned book:
Arnold Wienholt – MP, lion hunter and intelligence agent – was a larger-than-life hero whose eccentricities were legendary.
He once hired a circus tent when campaigning for Parliament and offered to box all-comers in the ring. On his first hunting expedition to Africa, he recklessly pursued a wounded lion and ended up scarred for life.
Schooled at Eton and on his family’s vast holdings in Queensland, Wienholt fought for (the) Empire during the Boer War and was an early exponent of guerrilla warfare.
Decorated for bravery in the First World War, he died in mysterious circumstances spying behind the lines in northern Africa in 1940.
With the distance of time and absence of the original property owners, there are a few discrepancies in recollections of the history of the Avenue, however there is unanimous agreement that the trees were planted on all property frontages within Weinholt Street as a memorial to fallen soldiers who served in war and they now form a very well loved and recognised living memorial. The fact that this species was only commercially available from the late 1940s, further supports the timing of establishment of the Avenue as being in the years immediately following the end of WWII.
This image graciously supplied by a local Honour Avenue resident, Sherwood, (from her father’s slide collection circa early 1960s).
Whilst the Rambler family car (not in her mother’s affection as she referred to it as “that old tomato soup tin can”) dominates the scene, the Weinholt Street Avenue of Honour bottlebrush trees can be clearly seen lining the verge in the background)
All additional contributions to the history gathered so far would be very warmly welcomed by the current street residents; most especially, any photos, recollections and details of serving family members for whom this Avenue represents a personal memorial. Contact can be made through this Avenue of Honour webpage or through the local Brisbane City Councillor, Nicole Johnston’s Tennyson Ward Office.(Email: [email protected], )
Acknowledgement
Many thanks to Alice and Andrew Rankine, former residents of Weinholt Street, for their dedicated research and advocacy for the conservation of this splendid Avenue of Honour.
They were presented with The Gold Leaf Distinguished Service Award at the National TREENET Symposium in 2015, in recognition of their passion and commitment.
