There is no doubt that almost every Australian family was affected by World War One in some way or another.
One sad fact that came out of the war was the intense hatred of Germans that emerged together with all things German. The German families who emigrated to Australia and were happily living their lives, being a part of so many local communities suddenly became “the enemy”. When war broke out they were suddenly classed as an “enemy alien” purely because of their heritage, with many sent to concentration camps.
Many towns and streets in Australia had German names. However, come the start of World War One . . . and all thing German became “the enemy”, so to have German place names was no longer acceptable.
Hanover Street – changed to King Street to honour King George V who reigned during WWI.
Brunswick Street – changed to Queen Street, to honour Mary of Teck, wife of George V.
To remind citizens of the war effort (WWI), many new streets were named (or some re-named) in patriotic fervour.
Albion Street (an ancient poetic name for Britain), Argonne Street, Brussels Street, Empire Avenue (formerly Mangrove Street – Concord Volunteer workers built three cottages here for returning wounded soldiers), Gallipoli Street, Lemnos Street, Lorraine Street, Malta Street, Mena Street, Warsaw Street – were all to commemorate sites connected with WWI and to remind citizens of the war effort.
Others were named to commemorate those who helped to win the war.
Anderson Road – Brigadier General Sir Robert Murray McCheyne Anderson, KCMG. An outstanding soldier and “a fiercely Australian patriot”.
Cavell Avenue (formerly Broke Street) – British nurse Dame Edith Louisa Cavell.
Davidson Avenue – Sir Walter Edward Davidson, Governor of New South Wales, 1917-1924.
Hamilton Street (formerly Swamp Street) – General Sir Ian Hamilton (British soldier) who commanded the gallant assault at the landing at Gallipoli in 1915.
Ian Parade (formerly Swamp Street) – see Hamilton Street
Jellicoe Street – Admiral of the Fleet, John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellico. He fought in the Boxer Rebellion and commanded the grand fleet at the Battle of Jutland.
Kitchener Avenue – Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, who died part way through the war.
Lloyd George Avenue – David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister. Represented Britain at the Versailles Peace Conference.
