Anzac centenary

On 25 April 2015, Australia and New Zealand commemorated the centenary of the Anzac landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

Gallipoli has a special significance to many Australians. The 2015 commemorations were particularly poignant for the families of the men and women who served at Gallipoli, and in the many other battles and campaigns of the First World War.

Gallipoli and Beyond 2015

To mark this significant occasion, we partnered with the Gallipoli and Beyond Committee to deliver Gallipoli and Beyond 2015 – a program of events and activities throughout 2015 to promote the historical, social and cultural understanding of the centenary.

The committee is made up of members from the historical societies of Balwyn, Kew, Canterbury, Hawthorn, Surrey Hills and Camberwell, the Boroondara Historical Society Association, the Friends of Boroondara Cemetery and Kew RSL.

Highlights of Gallipoli and Beyond 2015 included:

  • Boroondara Remembers: Stories of World War 1 – a local account of the impact of the war on the community of the time.
  • Girls in Grey – a theatre production inspired by the diaries and letters of our Australian Army nurses.
  • Anzac Day: Past, Present and Future – Q&A event moderated by Cr Coral Ross and a panel with former state premier Ted Baillieu, Claire Chisholm, Serdar Baycan, Lt Col Neil Smith AM (retired) and professors Marilyn Lake and Joseph Camilleri OAM.
  • Public talks on significant people, including Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott, soldier Stroud Langford and Sir John Monash.
  • Walking and bus tours to significant sites in the City of Boroondara.
  • Dawn Service on Anzac Day.
  • Commemorative tree planting.
  • Boroondara Remembers: Signal Box Painting Project – VicRoads traffic signal boxes were painted during May to November 2015 as part of a community art project with local schools and community organisations.
  • First World War memorabilia exhibitions at our libraries.

You can download a free copy of Boroondara Remembers: Stories of World War 1 from our library catalogue.

Anzac Centenary website

You can share your stories and photographs relating to the First World War on the Australian Government's Anzac Centenary website.

The website also includes historical information and photographs, resources to research family and community history, and links to other related websites.