This special Memorial in Concord West has taken a powerful step forward in its ultimate goal of attaining recognition as a Military Memorial of National Significance. Federal, State and Local governments are currently collaborating to deliver a business case securing the site’s future and acknowledging its unique place among military commemoration sites.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway was conceived during the Australia Remembers 1945-95 programme and is a defining symbol of Australia’s involvement in the Pacific war. It was designed by D.M. Taylor Landscape Architects Pty Ltd, and features:
Memorial Centrepiece – A striking series of granite walls on which images from the New Guinea Campaign have been sandblasted. Water also forms an integral part of the centrepiece, with it cascading alongside the granite walls.
Rainforest Area – Includes a watercourse leading into a pond overlooking the Parramatta River.
Rose Garden Entry Area – A peaceful and beautiful entrance, featuring two semi-circular memorial walls among beds of roses. On the walls are plaques dedicated to the memory of individuals who served in the war. The Rose Garden is linked to the Walkway by the Bruce Kingsbury V.C. Path.
Stations – Places of significance in the New Guinea campaign where important battles were fought or events occurred. There are 22 stations along the Walkway, each providing historical accounts and images of the New Guinea campaign.
Information Centre – A state of the art building where visitors may enjoy a cup of coffee and purchase merchandise
Mangrove Boardwalk – A timber boardwalk into the mangroves provides a feel for the vegetation in New Guinea.
The Walkway is a remarkable commemoration to those who served in Papua New Guinea and it holds a special place in the hearts of veterans and the community
It is a living, evolving memorial and an educational resource which forms a link with the past for future generations. It is a sight of natural beauty and importance as it simulates the conditions of The Kokoda Track with lush tropical vegetation and anybody who walks it can begin to visualise the kind of conditions soldiers would have faced.
It is the only national Kokoda memorial and it must be protected for the benefit of generation to come.
It connects to the Concord Repatriation General Hospital, which is revered by the military and veteran community.
The site is visited by thousands of veterans, students, tourists and the local community each year.
For more information: www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/kokoda-track-memorial-walkway
