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Anzac Day 2020: Gold Coast streets named after WW1 soldiers

You might not give it a second thought, but some of our street names have been written in blood. These Gold Coast streets are named after WW1 veterans.

Remembering 1917: a nation divided

MOTORISTS driving down Gold Coast roads might not give them a second thought, but some street names have been written in blood.

Hundreds of Gold Coast men served in the First World War but many did not return.

Street names in Southport, Labrador, Benowa, Broadbeach and Biggera Waters were renamed in 1937 to commemorate the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The street was named after Southport local Sydney Henry Turpin who was one of the 17 names of Southport men listed killed in The Great World War. Picture: Jerad Williams
The street was named after Southport local Sydney Henry Turpin who was one of the 17 names of Southport men listed killed in The Great World War. Picture: Jerad Williams

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor discovered this at the Australian War Memorial.

“After finding a name in local history archives, I thought I would try and find it in Canberra,” he said. “I did and found a few more, did some research at the war memorial and couldn’t believe what I found.”

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In 1937, the then Southport Town Council decided to rename Bay Street (Southport) to Parr Street; Halon Street (Southport) to Pohlman Street; Nerang Street (Benowa) to Robin Street; Musgrave Avenue (Southport) to Surch Court; Maud Street (Surfers Paradise) to Whelan Street; Pacific Avenue (Southport) to Graham Avenue; North Street (Biggera Waters) to Burrows Street; Short Street (Biggera Waters) to Taylor Street; Beach Parade (near Broadbeach) to Brown’s Parade; High Street (Labrador) to Turpin Road; Spencer Street (Labrador) to Walter Street.

Queensland State Member for Bonney Sam O'Connor under street sign Turprin Rd in Labrador. Picture: Jerad Williams
Queensland State Member for Bonney Sam O'Connor under street sign Turprin Rd in Labrador. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr O’Connor said the Diggers’ names were an important but forgotten part of Gold Coast history.

“Everyone who lives on these streets or drives along them every day should know the names of these young men,” he said.

Mr O’Connor is now campaigning to have the Australian Defence Force Rising Sun badge put on street signs at Labrador and Biggera Waters.

“I’d also like to see some sort of small plaque or sign to tell the stories of each of these Diggers,” he said. “That way people will know about the sacrifice these young men made. We cannot allow them to be forgotten.”

STREET NAME HISTORY

TURPIN ROAD, LABRADOR, honours Southport local Sydney Henry Turpin, who worked as a labourer before leaving to fight in World War I. Sydney married Charlotte Smith in late 1913 and in July 1915 their son, George Henry Turpin, was born. George only spent the first year of his life with his father because Sydney, 26, left Australia in August 1916 to fight in Europe. Private Turpin was killed on April 2, 1918, on a battlefield in France.

Sam O’Connor holding a photograph of Sydney Henry Turpin provided from the Australian War Memorial. Picture: Jerad Williams
Sam O’Connor holding a photograph of Sydney Henry Turpin provided from the Australian War Memorial. Picture: Jerad Williams

PARR STREET, BIGGERA WATERS, honours George Henry Parr.

His family lived in Queen Street, Southport, and he was a member of Nerang Rifle Club for five years.

Corporal Parr was 27 when he died in Belgium in October 1917 while fighting with the 47th Australian Infantry Battalion. His name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Flanders, Belgium, along with the names of 6190 other Australians who never returned home. Tragically, his brother-in-law, uncle and two cousins were also killed in the First World War.

BURROWS STREET, BIGGERA WATERS, honours Percival George Burrows.

Private Burrows was killed on 8 June 1917 at the Battle of Messines – one of 6000 Australian casualties. Messines was the first time the Anzac troops had fought together since Gallipoli. He was buried at the Messines Ridge British Cemetery in Flanders.

TAYLOR STREET, BIGGERA WATERS, honours Bertie James Taylor, who was only 21 when he died in the Battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium in 1917. He has no known grave.

He went to Southport State School and enlisted early in the war as an 18 year old, embarking from Sydney aboard the SS Hawkes.

SURCH COURT, SOUTHPORT, honours the memory of James Richard Surch.

Private Surch was in the 26th Australian Infantry Battalion and died in action on August 11, 1918, in France, aged 30. He is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Cemetery.

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coast-130/anzac-day-2020-gold-coast-streets-named-after-ww1-soldiers/news-story/e6c6b2b8c21d8c3ae1d1550ec40371a1