Sir Peter Cosgrove has paid his respects to soldiers from Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges lost in WWI.

They died serving their country in World War I, and now their memory will live on in the shade of gumtrees along the Puffing Billy train trail.

Officially opened by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Wednesday, Emerald Anzac Walk in outer Melbourne not only commemorates the fallen soldiers but gives local people an insight to the history of their town.

Arriving on Puffing Billy amid a re-enactment of soldiers arriving home, and watching a flyover by the RAAF Roulettes, an elite aerobatic display team, Sir Peter said he couldn't think of a better spot for the commemorative footpath.

"One hundred years on from the start of World War I, we remember those men who didn't return home from their service," he said.

"And this is a unique memento for Emerald."

Anzac Walk creates a new footpath along Memorial Avenue with information stands along the way on each of the soldiers from Emerald and surrounding districts.

Descendants of the 32 soldiers attended the opening and described it as a fantastic way to keep their memory alive.

Victorian Peter Foreman and his father Anthony beamed with pride when talking about Private Lister Beryl Foreman, Peter's great great uncle.

"Sadly, he died while fighting in Belgium and never returned to Australia," Peter told AAP.

"So, it's great to have something like this."

Others attended from NSW and Western Australia.