“It was a tragedy that highlighted the bravery of locals at the time, and it’s a tragedy that it hasn’t been acknowledged until now,” according to York Shire Tourism Manager Rebecca Atkinson.

Along with many locals living in York, she feels immense disappointment about the lack of recognition for Australia’s worst peacetime aviation disaster.

On the night of June 26, 1950, A.N.A.’s flagship aircraft DC-4 VH-ANA, better known by the community as Amana, took off from Guildford Airport in Perth bound for Adelaide and crashed 22 minutes later in York, killing all 24 passengers and five crew.

A memorial for the crash exists in the neighbouring town of Beverley, but locals wanted it recognised in York, to cement it as part of the town’s history, and to honour the people who tried to help the victims.

Colin McNamara, the only living witness of the crash, was among the first people on the scene along with his brother and father, as well as landowner, Geoff Inkpen. The plane crashed on Mr Inkpen’s 25,000-hectare property, only 365 of which was arable, meaning the walk to and from the scene was tough. They carried the last survivor, Edgar Forwood, through bushland for an hour until they reached an ambulance, but sadly he died five days later.

Settlers House General Manager Stacey Slater said the lack of recognition is a common theme among locals and tourists who come to York. She said: “I’ve spoken to so many people who don’t know what I’m talking about and are absolutely gobsmacked when they find out about it, to know that the equal biggest aviation disaster in Australian history was here in York.”

After the York Shire rejected two proposals to build a memorial to honour the crash, Settlers House in York took it upon themselves, with the help of residents, to establish a monument and held a ceremony, made possible entirely by volunteer work. 

While Ms Slater said Settlers House is paying most of the costs, she wanted to recognise the help of many locals who contributed in various ways.

Ms Slater said the pilot’s son paid for the plaques that display the names of the victims of the crash and artists donated their time to put the memorial together.

The biggest hurdle the community had to overcome to establish the memorial without help from the Shire was finding a public place suitable for the monument and ceremony. 

Ms Slater said Brian Woolcock, a resident who owned a piece of land containing a rose garden neighbouring Settlers House, happily donated the garden space to be the home for the crash’s memorial, which she added is a testament to the perseverance and mateship York has shown in coming together to ensure the victims and responders of this tragedy are recognised. 

Unveiled on October 18, the design features a boulder with a plaque on the face of it, with a replica of the Amana plane positioned above. The boulder is from the property the plane crashed on, hauled into town by tractor through a community effort.

Elisha Kasteel, one of the sculptors who donated her time to help build the monument said one of the intentions behind the design was to bring the event back to life in a way, and hopefully spark conversation about the tragedy in town.

Ms Atkinson hopes the memorial educates the community and people passing through York about the disaster 75 years ago, and she hopes the local school will teach students about it.

She said: “The history of any town should be highlighting its significant moments, and this is one of those.”