These memorials also provide a space to reflect upon all the ways the community and landscape was affected by the events which began on 7 February 2009 and forever changed lives.
Located in many beautiful locations throughout Murrindindi Shire, the memorials include the Flowerdale (opposite 3008 Whittlesea-Yea Road, Flowerdale), Kinglake (255 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake), Kinglake West (western side of the Whittlesea-Yea Road and Whittlesea-Kinglake Road intersection, Kinglake West), Marysville (13 Falls Rd, Marysville access via Gallipoli Park), Narbethong (618 Maroondah Hwy, Narbethong), and the Toolangi-Castella Memorials (Castella Central Park, corner of Melba Highway and Healesville-Kinglake Road, Castella).
Forty percent of Murrindindi Shire was burnt during the 2009 bushfires. More than 100 people lost their lives and 1,397 homes, 75 businesses, 16 community or government buildings and 234 sheds were destroyed. These memorials honour those who lost their lives while representing the community's strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Just a short walk from High Street Yea, you can lose yourself in the peace and tranquillity of the natural bush and the impressive riverine floodplain that is the Yea Wetlands.