Historical information

This depiction of Major George Devine Treloar (1884-1980) by artist Lis Johnson was commissioned by the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee an initiative of Merimna Kynon of Oceania, Central Portian Pontion Association of Melbourne and Victoria Pontiaki Estiaâ and the City of Ballarat. Treloar was appointed as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in Greece in 1922 where he worked to provide food, aid and comfort to what would eventually total over 100,000 refugees from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. This memorial grew from the desire of the descendants of refugees to honour his memory and his humanitarian work.

Physical description

Bronze statue of George Treloar and a child on granite plinth

Inscriptions & markings

Front: Major George Devine Treloar (Born Ballarat 1884 - Died Dalkeith 1980)
Artist: Lis Johnson
Commissioned by the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee an initiative of Merimna Kynon of Oceania, Central Portian Pontion Association of Melbourne and Victoria ‘Pontiaki Estia’ and the City of Ballarat.
Unveiled by Ballarat Mayor Councillor Samantha McIntosh on 8 September 2019
His glory lies not in the earth, but in the hearts of men
(After Thucydides, 460-395 BCE)

Back: Ballarat’s George Devine Treloar – Soldier and Refugee Helper
Born in 1884, George Devine Treloar the son of Jane and Thomas Treloar, grew up in Ballarat attending St Patrick’s College.
Treloar began his military career by joining the British Army during WWI and transferred to the elite Coldstream Guards where his bravery earnt him the Distinguished
Service Order and Military Cross.
Treloar was appointed as the League of Nations Commissioner for Refugees in Greece in 1922 where he worked tirelessly – with his wife and family – to provide food,
aid and comfort to what would eventually total over 100,000 refugees from the collapsing Ottoman Empire. Based in the town of Komotini and then Thessaloniki, he
created new villages to accommodate refugees. For his efforts Treloar would earn the praises of those he had helped. One of the new towns he had helped create was
named in his honor – Thrylorion. He was awarded the Greek Gold Cross of the Order of the Redeemer in 1923.
This memorial grew from the desire of the descendants of refugees assisted by Major George Devine Treloar in Greece to honor his memory. Without his help their
ancestors would not have survived, making their way from across the former Ottoman Empire, from Pontus and Asia Minor to Australia.
Here in the town of his birth stands his memorial, dedicated to his memory and good works, created by the people of Ballarat and the descendants of the refugees he
saved.