History Project Stories
PEACE PARK
Peace Park
This 0.59-hectare park is located at 2–8 Ford Street, Queanbeyan. The Peace Garden and the trees planted by the citizens of Queanbeyan commemorate the 1986 International Year of Peace. For many years Hiroshima Day commemorations were held at the site.
CITY OF QUEANBEYAN
‘THE EARTH IS BUT ONE COUNTRY AND ALL ITS PEOPLE CITIZENS’
This Plaque Was Erected By
The Queanbeyan City Council To
Mark The Opening Of The Peace Garden
On 27th September, 1986.
The Trees Have Been Planted By
Citizens Of Queanbeyan To Recognise
The International Year Of Peace In 1986.
R. B. Smith, Town Clerk
(Ald.) D. M. Madew, Mayor
The Peace Park was within the Square Mile inspection site first toured by the newly created Trees for Queanbeyan committee on Sunday 9 September 1990. (See the Trees for Queanbeyan Story). Following the tour it was identified as one of the priority sites for the Committee as it was in urgent need of an upgrade and it was thought it could be a showpiece of the efforts of the group.
A paper produced by Trees for Queanbeyan and secured in the Minutes for Trees for Queanbeyan identified the opportunities and constraints of the site and included a plan of implementation.
The removal of blackberries and scruffy trees and some landforming was planned with help sought from Council, Queanbeyan Rotary Clubs, HMAS Harman and the Monaro Conservation Society. Two arduous Clean-up days were carried out by members in May and September 1991. Chainsaws were used to remove Willows and woody weeds that were then burnt on site in huge bonfires. Students from Queanbeyan East Public School then planted over 100 trees.
Ongoing activities by members included spraying of weeds, spreading of grass and wattle seed and the maintenance of tree guards. Council assistance was sought to clear a walking track through to Blundell’s Park and many requests for signage were made.
In 1992 the Presidents Report to the Trees for Queanbeyan Committee from Tim Booth noted that 300 trees had been planted at the Peace Park, he also noted the following.....
Harry Hesse, a Councillor, a member of both the Monaro Conservation Society and Queanbeyan Landcare was fundamental to the commemoration events held at the site along with Robert Bartram, John McGlynn, Kerrie Ruth, Meg Boland, Ann Rocca and Frank Pangallo (Mayor of Queanbeyan). An exhibition on Harry Hesse’s contribution to the community and his role in the establishment of the Peace Park and ongoing Hiroshima Days events exists in the Queanbeyan Museum collection.
There have been no Hiroshima Day commemorations at the site for a number of years however in recent years Council has resumed holding this event at the Council chambers.
2015
This image is dated 19 November 2015. In 2025 while editing this story Tom Baker commented on the planting on the right-hand side of this image ‘Gary Orr planted those, they are River Red Gums, seedlings from these can now be seen growing on the eastern side of the river a bit upstream from the Railway Bridge’. Gary was a well-known Guerilla planter in the area.
By 2022 the park was looking neglected with little being done to maintain and care for this site.
2022
2022
2022
2025
In 2025 there has been lots of growth and much clearing of weeds down from the viewing platform.