Previous Find of the Month November

Previous Find of the Month November


November 2021

"Lest We Forget"

Remembrance Nature Park

ArchivesACT’s November 2015 Find of the Month. This park was named to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice on the 11th November 1918 - 103 years ago. With remembrance day not far away thought it would be fitting to re-visit this article.
Park Sign


Much admired Canberra citizen Honor Thwaites left her community with an important legacy. Her vision for the Remembrance Nature Park in Campbell led to the creation of an urban refuge, an oasis of natural beauty. Located behind the Australian War Memorial, at the foot of Mount Ainslie, the park is a lovely setting for the purpose of reflection.

The story of how this passionate Canberra citizen became the driving force behind positive community action, and the impetus for Government policy change, shows how this lasting memorial was created within our city.

The file '78/3095: Lands Division - Statutory Processes - Remembrance Nature Park' documenting the origins of the park is ArchivesACT's find of the month.


The Road That Never Was

Walter Burley Griffin's 1925 'Statutory Plan for Canberra' outlined a road running along the base of Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie, linking Canberra's northern suburbs with the City. In May 1956, the Commonwealth Government gazetted this road as 'Monash Drive'.

By the 1960s, while still unconstructed, maps showed Monash Drive extending from the end of Stirling Avenue in Hackett, to the east of Ainslie and Campbell, terminating at Morshead Drive near Russell. Despite being planned for so long, the proposed road finally became a contentious issue with residents during the mid 1970s. Its construction, flagged to begin in the early 1980s, would remove the easy access people enjoyed to Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie. There was also a wider concern about the visual impact a proposed housing development would have to the 680m line along the base of Mount Ainslie.

In December 1976, the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) released its proposal for this area as part of an overall urban infill plan taking in the suburbs of Ainslie, Hackett, O'Connor, Yarralumla, Campbell and Deakin and comprising over 2000 houses. In the National Capital Plan, the NCDC had zoned the vacant land between Monash Drive and the suburbs of Hackett, Ainslie and Campbell for over 1000 of these homes. This resulted in the formation of a residents' action group called The Mount Ainslie-Majura Protection Association who protested the development on the grounds of environmental and heritage concerns as well as the contradictions between the infill proposals and the Griffin Plan.


A Peace and Freedom Nature Park

In February 1977, Campbell resident Mrs Honor Thwaites decided to act on an idea she had been considering for a number of years.

Honor Thwaites was born as Honor Mary Scott Good in 1914 to Dr and Mrs R.N. Scott Good, at Young, NSW. After completing an honours degree in French and German at Melbourne University, Honor Scott Good travelled to Britain in 1938 where, in 1940, she married Mr Michael Rayner Thwaites, who was serving with the Royal Navy. After World War 2, they returned to Australia, firstly to Melbourne then moving to Canberra in the early 1950s. The Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) recruited Michael in 1950 where he played a major role in the Petrov Affair. In 1971, Michael left ASIO to work as the Assistant Parliamentary Librarian.

It was around this time that Honor Thwaites first conceived the idea of a "Peace and Freedom Nature Park" on the vacant land opposite her Cobby Street home.

One of the areas designated for urban development was Campbell Section 62, an area of land that sits immediately behind the Australian War Memorial. The NCDC identified the blocks along the section's eastern edge fronting Cobby Street as "being suitable for medium density residential development." On the 14 February 1977, Honor Thwaites first met with Mr Neil Sligar, from the community relations section of the NCDC, regarding her proposal for a park. The NCDC had not yet made a final decision on the medium density housing proposal, and acknowledged resistance to this development, saying that "undertakings were given to Campbell residents that a range of alternative land uses would be investigated before any final decision was taken."


Aerial view of Campbell Section 62 outlined in red

Aerial view of Campbell Section 62 outlined in red.


On the 22 February 1977, Honor sent a copy of her written plan, which she called 'Proposal for a PEACE AND FREEDOM NATURE PARK behind the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL', to the Minister for the Capital Territory, Anthony Allan 'Tony' Staley and NCDC Secretary-Manager Kevin John Curtis. Honor's proposal detailed how, with the help of community and school groups, the area could be cleaned up and replanted with native shrubs and trees. She listed groups which had already expressed interest in the project, including the Returned Services League (RSL), The National Parks Association and the Campbell High School Board. Honor envisioned that:

"This 'Peace and Freedom Nature Park' would link it with the War Memorial, as a symbol of the peace and freedom two generations of Australians risked and gave their lives to defend. The War Memorial then, as well as enshrining the past would stand as a gateway to the future."

In October 1977, Honor also enlisted the aid of ACT Senator John Knight. In a hint to the park's future focus, Honor wrote to Senator Knight:

"In the area is a rocky cleft which offers a natural open air theatre for the performance of Aboriginal music and dancing, or bush ballads etc. In an authentic setting, with, at the same time, a glimpse of Parliament House through the trees!"


60th Anniversary of Remembrance Day

Of the community groups who supported the proposed park, the RSL were the most vocal.On the 19th September 1977, RSL National Secretary, Sir Alexander George William Keys wrote to the NCDC Commissioner, Anthony John Walker Powell describing the area for the Peace and Freedom Park as being "back of the War Memorial, and west, as far as Campbell High School, and east, as far as Cobby Street." Keys also gave the following recommendation:

"The Executive found itself very strongly in support of the concept, and also of the idea that this would be an admirable means by which the 60th anniversary of 'Remembrance Day' on the 11 November 1978 might be suitably commemorated."

The NCDC Secretary and Manager, K.J. Curtis acknowledged the League's support. He stated that the area suggested for the park was proposed by the NCDC for gazettal as open space,although there was still a small section, fronting Cobby Street, considered suitable for medium density housing. Keys placed his support with the Campbell residents:

"I have been over the land in question, and I must agree with the views that have been expressed by the local residents that medium density residential development in the area to the west of Cobby Street, would detract very greatly from the development of the rest of the area as a park land suitable for nature walks and the development of other outdoor facilities."

In December 1977, Robert James 'Bob' Ellicott replaced Staley as Minister for the Capital Territory. Honor Thwaites wrote to Ellicott making him aware of her proposal; however, his staff felt there might be a conspiracy afoot. A handwritten memo by W. Davis dated the 10th of February 1978 states:

"Get out a final reply along the lines of "thank you for your proposal - the matter has been taken up with the National Memorials and/or NCDC (as appropriate). Then, as possible, investigate the question of whether R.S.L. is behind proposal, to what extent etc. etc."

Ellicott must have listened to his staff because on the 20 February 1978 he wrote to Honor saying:

"The suggested park would be related to a most important national memorial and affect an area of national significance. Accordingly, it would not only be a matter of interest to people and organisations in the wider community, but would require consideration by a number of official bodies."

Toward the end of June 1978, Keys followed up with Ellicott for a progress report on the park proposed as a means of commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Remembrance Day. He raised the concern that "time is passing rapidly, and if anything is to be done prior to this date, an early start would be essential."


Reservations About the Name

By July 1978, Ellicott approved of the park's concept. But now there were some reservations about the name Honor Thwaites had originally put forward. One file note considered the name of Peace and Freedom Nature Park as "rather an unfortunate choice" although didn't explain why. Elliott also found it "rather long for common usage" and suggested the name Freedom Park as more appropriate. In explaining his concern to Honor, Elliott suggested she would like to consider another name and to "let me have your views."

In August 1978, the final hurdle to the park vanished when the NCDC dropped their plans for residential development on Campbell Section 62, classifying the whole area as parkland.

In September 1978, the RSL agreed another name should be given to the park:

"One point that has caused some discussion is the matter of a title for the area. The National Executive of the R.S.L. discussed this, and we tend to agree that if it is called the "Peace & Freedom Nature Park" this becomes a little long winded and would tend to be abbreviated in any case. We feel therefore, that the most appropriate name would be "Remembrance Nature Park."

Later that month, Ellicott wrote to Honor Thwaites confirming he would declare Campbell Section 62 a nature park. On the 19 October 1978, Honor replied:

"On returning home I was delighted to find your letter of 20.9.78, giving the news of your decision to declare the Nature Park behind the Australian War Memorial, as a means of commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the 11th November, 1918. Mr Keys has told me that the R.S.L. would like to have the word "Remembrance" incorporated in the name, so "Remembrance Nature Park" seems to express what is needed."


Letter from Honor Thwaites to Bob Ellicott 19th October 1978

Letter from Honor Thwaites to Minister for the Capital Territory, Bob Ellicott, dated 19th October 1978

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"Declaration of Certain Land to be a Public Park"

In just under two years, Honor's vision came to pass when the Commonwealth Government officially declared Campbell Section 62 the 'Remembrance Nature Park' on the 11th of November 1978.


Press release announcing the declaration of the Remembrance Nature Park

Press release announcing the declaration of the Remembrance Nature Park


Special Gazette No.S239 - Declaration of Certain Land to be a Public Park

Special Gazette No.S239 - Declaration of Certain Land to be a Public Park. Click on image for PDF copy (PDF Icon.PDF 433Kb)

Monash Drive was never built, and the National Capital Authority (NCA) ultimately removed it from the Territory Plan in 2009 .

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"Remembering the Aboriginal People who Served"

The restoration of the Remembrance Nature Park was to be an on-going effort. Honor and Michael Thwaites formed a volunteer group called Friends of The Remembrance Nature Park. With the Friends' assistance and additional help from students from nearby Campbell High School, over time litter on the site was cleared, walking trails constructed and re-vegetation with native plants took place.


The Honor Thwaites Track

The Honor Thwaites Track


In February 1987, the Friends held a meeting to discuss the erection of a memorial to Aboriginal Australians who served in the Australian armed forces. The Australian War Memorial had no dedicated memorial for indigenous service personnel and the Friends wished to fill this gap. They planned the unveiling of the memorial to coincide with Australia's Bicentenary and the 70th Remembrance Day in 1988.

Honor suggested a small bronze plaque attached to a rock outcrop beside one of the park's walking trails. The Friends successfully applied for a grant to fund the plaque, as well as benches and additional paths. After consultation with indigenous friends, Honor wrote the following inscription for the plaque:

"Remembering the Aboriginal people who served in the Armed Forces"

Michael Thwaites, commenting on the memorial in January 1999 said, "we felt that Australia's debt to the Aboriginal people who served in the Australian forces was inadequately commemorated." Michael and Honor felt it fitting "to place a plaque in a setting which the Aboriginal people have known and loved for thousands of years."


The Memorial to Aboriginal Service Personnel.

The Memorial to Aboriginal Service Personnel

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One Last Visit

Honor Thwaites succumbed to cancer on the 24th November 1993. In an interview with the Canberra Times published on the 11th of November 1994, Michael said:

"We spent last Remembrance Day together with our son and daughter. We got Honor into our old car, grabbed the key to the park, and drove her to a bench where she sat and looked out over the hills. It was the last time she got to the park."

View from the park

Transcript of Honor Thwaites Park Proposal

Proposal for a PEACE AND FREEDOM NATURE PARK behind the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

A special nature park could be created, regenerated and preserved on the land immediately behind the Australian War Memorial. The area envisaged would be that extending from behind the Campbell High School, across to Cobby Street Campbell, and extending up the hill as far as the proposed Monash Drive. The land has attractive natural contours and rock formations, from which there are delightful vistas of Parliament House, the National Library and so on, across the lake with the high mountains in the background. The natural flora are slowly regenerating, but there is a good deal of intrusion from weeds, litter in the creek beds etc. There is a great variety of bird life, which could be encouraged by further appropriate planting of native shrubs and trees, and by more water coming into the existing creek beds.

Many tourists, who otherwise just visit the Memorial and go, could be intrigued by the concept of the nature park as part of the central axis between Capital Hill and Mount Ainslie. It would also serve as an introduction to the surrounding region, leading naturally on to the longer trails and climbs.

The project could be one of community participation, but taking shape under the guidance and management of the Conservation and Agriculture Branch of the D.C.T.

Participation could start in the schools - helping to plant native trees and shrubs. There could be voluntary working parties under the direction of the rangers, cleaning out litter and weeds etc, so that the growth gradually becomes again 100 p.c. native flora, and the park would thus become an increasingly beautiful sample of the bushland in the area.

All this would afford an education, as well as an acceptable form of recreation, resulting in a growing sense of identification with, and responsibility for the environment, guarding against fire, vandalism, etc.

A number of community groups with appropriate interests would also have the opportunity to be involved in the project, e.g.: the National Parks Association, the Society for Growing Native Plants, the Scouts and Guides, and so on.

Students in subjects such as botany, entomology, biology etc. could get as voluntary guides and information officers when required.

The nature park would have a three-fold purpose :

(a) An introduction to the wider environment

(b) For visitors and tourists with limited time, an immediate example of some of the natural features of the region

(c) An opportunity for the very young and the elderly, and those who could not climb the steeper slopes, to enjoy an easily accessible stretch of bushland in its natural state.

Such a development would be directly in line with the original recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on the A.C.T. 1955, referring to the educational and recreational resources to be preserved in the area.

Up till now planning for Canberra has been uniquely forward-looking. The concept of integrating the natural bushland with a growing city is so up-to-date.

Here Australia had been given a head start in the environmental issues now confronting humanity and we are still able to demonstrate this in no less a place than our national capital.

As a nation and a city we are due for another imaginative move, creative and non-mercenary. The more one becomes economy-minded, even necessarily so, the greater the need to keep alive the spirit of adventure and exploration. A great nature park would be something our generation could pass on to the next millennium. This ‘Peace and Freedom Nature Park' would link it with the War Memorial, as a symbol of the peace and freedom two generations of Australians risked and gave their lives to defend. The War Memorial then, as well as enshrining the past would stand as a gateway to the future.

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