Soldier Settler Memorial Garden, Narre Warren North

On Saturday, March 1st, 2008 the Soldier Settler Memorial Garden at Narre Warren North was officially opened by the Mayor of the City of Casey, Cr Janet Halsall (pictured above). Cr Rob Wilson (pictured below right), the Chair of the City of Casey Soldier Settlement Committee made an enthusiastic speech. Many community groups were present, including members of the R.S.L, who displayed the Australian flag and the Union Jack, representing the two flags that the First World War soldiers fought under.

The Garden commemorates the seven Soldier settler families who farmed at Narre Warren North from 1934. They are Thomas & Annie Edwards, Edward & May Ivens, Leslie & Mary Lowry, John & Kathleen Rogers, Alfred & Sarah Sherriff, Francis & Jessie Stephenson and Arthur & Lila Street. Bob Street, the son of Arthur & Lila, gave us an interesting account of growing up at Narre Warren North. The photograph below is of Bob Street and some of the descendants of the Soldier Settlers. All the families were represented apart from the Rogers, whose one daughter died without issue.


The Memorial Garden is on the corner of Fox Road and McKenzie Lane in Kalora Park. This land was originally owned by Francis and Jessie Stephenson. The plaque is mounted a piece of granite and the Garden has been landscaped with plants typical of gardens from the 1930s and 1940s. It is an attractive Memorial to the Soldier Settlers of Narre Warren North.

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Soldier Settlers in Narre Warren North

Leslie and Mary Lowry
Image: Lowry family collection

On Saturday March 1st, 2008 the Soldier Settler Memorial Garden in Fox Road, Narre Warren North will be officially opened. This is a memorial to the seven Soldier Settler families who farmed in Narre Warren North from 1934. They are Thomas & Annie Edwards, Edward & May Ivens, Leslie & Mary Lowry (pictured above), John & Kathleen Rogers, Alfred & Sarah Sherriff, Francis & Jessie Stephenson and Arthur & Lila Street. The farmers, all Soldiers from World War One, were allocated blocks, on a 99 year lease, averaging 6 hectares (15 acres) which were mainly used for dairying and poultry production. The farms were in the vicinity of Fox Road and the Street farm (pictured below) is now the site of the Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School. Some families, such as the Edwards and the Streets had been on Soldier Settler blocks in the Mallee, before being allocated land at Narre Warren North. Life could be hard for the Soldier Settler but by all accounts the Narre Warren North settlers formed a close group and contributed much to the community life of the area.

Street farm at Narre Warren North
Image: Street Family coillection

Photo credits : Thank you to Gordon Lowry for the photograph of Leslie & Mary Lowry and to Bob Street for the photograph of the Street farm.

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