Located adjacent to an Information Pavilion and the ornate Arthurs Seat, a garden bed noting the elevation of the ‘Arthurs Seat Summit’ at 305 m above sea level, also includes a large granite rock displaying a rather shocking brass plaque paying tribute to those lost in two separate planes that collided with the granite escarpment.
Both incidents involved the aircraft flying in low cloud . . .
The plaque reads:
“AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS 1945 – 1995
This Plaque was unveiled and dedicated on the 12th day of July 1995, being the 53rd Anniversary of the crash of an RAAF Beaufort Plane into Arthurs Seat. This Monument is dedicated to the memory of the Two Air Crews who lost their Lives in Separate Air Crashes on Arthurs Seat, whilst undergoing Training to prepare them for the Defence of Australia.
At 9:45 A.M. on the 10th August 1938, an Avro Anson A4-29 of No. 2 Squadron was flying in low Cloud when it crashed into the North Western Face of Arthurs Seat. The Four Crewmen killed were
P.O. Robert Stanley Symonds 22 of Eastwood S.A. Pilot
SGT. Pilot John McMahon Gillespie 28 of St. Kilda VIC. Nav.
AC1 Kenneth Campbell McKerrow 23 of Carnegie VIC. W.O.
AC1 Robert Windram Mawson 28 of Turramurra N.S.W. Fitter
Miraculously
AC1 James Clover 21 of Hawthorn VIC. was injured but survived
…………………………………………………………….
At 7 A.M. on Sunday 12th July 1942 a Beaufort A9-64 flying in Mist and low Cloud just managed to clear the Summit of the Mountain and Crashed in Scrub Land South of the Lookout Tower. All Crew Members were Killed. They were
F.O. Robert (Terry) Elcoate 24 of Melbourne VIC.
SGT. Dudley Merton Wehl 22 of Capella QLD.
SGT. James Robert Axon 22 of Brisbane QLD.
SGT. Charles Martin Redgrave 31 of Grafton N.S.W.
…………………………………………………………….
A Dromana and District Historical Society Inc. Project 1995″
.
It is hard to fathom such a loss of life, in two planes that would hit a relatively small rise within such a large expanse of flat land, and, within four years of each other . . .
Helpful Hints:
– Within Close Proximity to Town Centre – obtain Directions here
– A large car parking area has been provided directly at the Summit Lookout
For Lists of Points of Interest relating to:
– Arthurs Seat State Park – click here
– Arthurs Seat Summit – click here
– Arthurs Seat Circuit Walk – click here
– Seawinds Gardens – click here
– For a northerly aspect view of Port Phillip Bay try the Northern Lookout also in ‘Seawinds Gardens’
Discover Arthurs Seat:
– Shopping
– Facilities available at Arthurs Seat include:
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