It is the second time the coastal rosemary (Westringia Mundi) plants, costing almost a thousand dollars, have been stolen from the memorial that was installed in the park a year ago.

Fairbridge Children's Park chairman David Hill said the theft was upsetting for everyone and called it a "very low act."

"It is like stealing flowers from a graveside," he said.

"Mr brother is the superintendent of the park and he was told about it on Thursday by one of our many supporters.

"He had driven past it and noticed they were gone. It was bitterly disappointing for us."

The first plants were stolen earlier this year. Mr Hill said the theft this time around looked as though it would be on a commercial scale and hoped anyone who may be aware of the plants' whereabouts would report it to the police.

"There are almost 100 Fairbridge kids who served in the armed forces and they'd be the most disappointed," Mr Hill said.

"The local community as well. We had a terrific turnout of veterans of the Australian Armed Forces who live in Western NSW who came to the opening of the memorial. They'll be upset too. It's just a low act."

The same day that the plants were taken, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects conferred a 2021 National Landscape Architecture Award on Fairbridge Children's Park, in the category of cultural heritage.

Advancing from AILA State recognition, the children's park now becomes a winner among winners.

But as for the theft and the next steps for the park, Mr Hill said they have consulted with Orange mayor Reg Kidd about the possibility of getting replacement plants put out there.

"It strikes us that 120 of those plants, it covers a significant area, and somebody must know apart from just the person who did it, so I'm hoping we'll find out who did steal them," Mr Hill said.

"Reg has offered to help us. We will now look at security cameras and a less costly replacement for the plants."

The Fairbridge Children's Park acknowledges the legacy of Britain's largest child migration schemes, which involved almost 1000 children travelling to attend the school outside Molong between 1938 and 1973.

The plan was for the boys to become farmers and the girls to become domestic workers but court cases later revealed the hardship and betrayal the children found once they arrived.

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