The trees, ranging in height from 2.6m to 4.3m, will replace some that have died or been removed after storm-damage.

King George V Avenue Working Group members, council workers and regional mayor Col Murray took part in the planting.

Group member David McKinnon said it was “a huge step forward”.

“This avenue has a cultural tie to the community,” he said.

The replanting is part of stage 1 of the King George V Avenue Conservation Management Plan.

The council used a $30,000 state government heritage grant, which Mr McKinnon said covered the cost of the trees, their transport from Bowral, labour, mulching and water.

Next August, the working group will receive another $30,000 for more trees to be planted along the avenue.

The oldest trees were planted in 1936 and are now 90 metres in height.

Carmel Madirazza, who has lived on the avenue since 1979, said the avenue was “for everybody”.

“No road to go through here – this is for the people of Tamworth to enjoy,” she said, referring to controversial past proposals to make the avenue an access road to and from Calala.

“To see the enjoyment of people walking their dogs, and mums and dads with their children and bikes … that’s how it should be,” she said.

“It’s great, and this is what we want it for.

“People have their wedding photos here; parents teach their children how to drive.”

Cr Murray said this should be “the first stage of an ongoing restoration of the glory of the avenue”.

“I think this is a significant day for the history of the avenue, in response to a very long and persistent campaign from passionate members of the community,” he said.

Mr McKinnon said the group had previously planted trees grown from the existing trees’ acorns.

“These have come from near Bowral on the Southern Highlands, so they’re going to have to acclimatise to a very different climate here and they're going to need a lot of water,” he said.