Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial | |
---|---|
Australian Government | |
For Australians who died as a result of war[1] | |
Established | 1925 |
Unveiled | 1941 |
Location | 35°16′50″S 149°08′57″E / 35.2805°S 149.1491°E |
Designed by | Emil Sodersten and John Crust (Memorial Building) Denton Corker Marshall (Administration Building, ANZAC Hall, CEW Building) |
Unknowns | 1 |
Official name | Australian War Memorial, Anzac Pde, Campbell, ACT, Australia |
Type | Listed place |
Criteria | A., B., D., E., F., G., H. |
Designated | 22 June 2004 |
Reference no. | 105469 |
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national
Plans to build a national war memorial and museum were initiated shortly after the
Although the memorial was initially envisioned to only commemorate servicemembers of the First World War, the institution's scope was expanded to include servicemembers of the
The memorial and museum is open daily excluding Christmas Day. The AWM holds several commemorative services on its grounds, including a nightly Last Post service, and national services for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
History
The
The idea for a national war memorial to commemorate veterans and to showcase
In 1923, the Australian Government officially announced its intentions to build a national war memorial, with the AWM being formally established through legislation in 1925.[4] A design competition for a new memorial was held from 1925 to 1926, although no winner was selected. Instead Emil Sodersten and John Crust were asked to collaborate and create a design that incorporates Sodersten's Art Deco style with Crust's cost-cutting approach.[5] Construction was set to begin in 1929, although its start was delayed due to the onset of the Great Depression. The project's scope was also reduced due to the Depression and a limited budget.[6][7]
By 1934, the "Lone Pine" pine, propagated from a seed brought back from Gallipoli, was planted on the property, and some construction work had started again.[8] By 1935, parts of the Memorial Building were occupied by AWM staff, although the AWM was not officially opened to the public until Remembrance Day in 1941.[7]
Shortly before its official opening, the Australian Government amended the role of the AWM in 1939, to be a memorial that commemorated war veterans from the Second World War in addition to the First World War. The Australian War Memorial Act was amended again in 1952, extending the AWM's scope of commemoration to include Australian involvement in all wars. In 1975, its scope was expanded again to allow for the commemoration of Australians who died as a result of war, even those who had not served with an armed forces from Australia.[1][9]
In 1993, a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed at the AWM.[10] From 1996 to 1999, the AWM expanded and upgraded its museum galleries and exhibitions, as well as create a space for temporary exhibitions.[11]
Christopher Latham was appointed as the AWM's first musical artist-in-residence in 2017. Latham began his Flowers of War series in 2015 to commemorate First World War musicians and artists.[12] His Gallipoli Symphony premiered in 2015 and Diggers' Requiem in 2018.[13] The memorial commissioned Latham's Vietnam Requiem, which was first performed in June 2021, and works are planned to commemorate the Korean War (2023), the Holocaust (2024), and World War II (2025).[13]
In 2021, the National Capital Authority (NCA) approved the AWM's expansion plans for the site, which include the construction of a new building known as New Anzac Hall and a link between the Memorial Building and the old Anzac Hall, an extension to the CEW Bean Building, and the refurbishment of the museum's southern entrance and Parade Ground.[14]
Directors
The following individuals have served as directors of the Australian War Memorial:
Name | Tenure | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Henry Gullett | 1919–1920 | |
2 | J. L. Treloar |
1920–1952 | |
3 | J. J. McGrath | 1952–1966 | |
4 | W. R. Lancaster | 1966–1974 | |
– | Bill Sweeting | 1974–1975 | Acting director |
5 | Noel Flanagan | 1975–1982 | |
6 | James Flemming | 1982–1987 | |
7 | Keith Pearson | 1987–1990 | |
8 | Brendon Kelson | 1990–1994 | |
9 | Steve Gower | 1996–2012 | Took full-time leave in November 2011[15] |
– | Nola Anderson | 2011–2012 | Acting director[16] |
10 | Brendan Nelson | 2012–2019 | [17][18] |
11 | Matt Anderson | 2020–present |
Chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council
The following individuals have served as chairman of the Australian War Memorial Council:
- Brendan Nelson (22 April 2022–October 2022)[19]
- Kim Beazley (2 December 2022–present)[20][21]
Grounds
The Australian War Memorial is located in Campbell, a suburb of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. It is situated on the symbolic terminus of the land axis of Walter Burley Griffin's plan for Canberra, at the base of Mount Ainslie. The property is approximately 14 hectares (35 acres) and is bounded by Limestone Avenue to the southwest, Fairbairn Avenue to the southeast, and Treloar Crescent to the north.[22] It is positioned at the northern terminus of Anzac Parade, which aligns with the land axis of central Canberra's design.[22] This axis runs from the peak of Mount Ainslie in the northeast to Capital Hill, in the southwest, a distance of 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi). The AWM's positioning along this axis was deliberate to reflect its national importance and provide it with a clear line of sight to Parliament House and vice versa.
The entire AWM is listed on Australia's
The southern face of the AWM grounds, the Parade Ground, includes the Stone of Remembrance, a six-and-a-half tonnes remembrance stone that serves as a focal point for major and national ceremonies at the AWM. The stone was relocated to the Parade Ground in 1962.[26] The Parade Ground was redeveloped in 2004 to improve access for ceremonial events, with sandstone terraces and a forecourt surrounding the Stone of Remembrance.[27] In 2021, the Stone of Remembrance was temporarily relocated to the AWM's western courtyard to accommodate construction for the museum's expansion.[26]
The property comprises the Memorial Building, ANZAC Hall, the CEW Bean Building, the Administration Building, and a cafe.[22] The Memorial Building houses the AWM's commemorative and exhibition spaces and was opened to the public in 1941.[7] The Administration Building houses the AWM's administrative offices and was completed in 1988.[28] During the 2000s, the AWM opened two new buildings to expand its exhibition and museum operations. ANZAC Hall was opened in 2001 as an 3,098 square metres (33,350 sq ft) exhibition space for large objects, while the CEW Bean Building was opened in 2006 to house some administrative staff and items from the AWM's collection.[27][29] Poppy's Café was built during the early 2010s, replacing an older café building built in 1960. An underground parking lot is also situated under the cafe.[28][30]
The design for the grounds and the Memorial Building were finalised by Emil Sodersten and John Crust during the 1930s.[5] Designs for the AWM's newer buildings, like the Administration Building, ANZAC Hall, and the CEW Bean Building were created by Denton Corker Marshall. The latter two building was built in excavated areas or areas of lower elevation so that it sits below the bulk of the Memorial Building.[29] ANZAC Hall is located north of Memorial Hall and was designed to resemble a battleship, with its battered walls clad with metal panels and curved turret roof design intended to appear like a battleship.[29]
Memorial Building
The AWM's Memorial Building contains the site's main commemorative areas, as well as most of its museum galleries. In addition to these spaces, the Memorial Building also contains the AWM's research centre and the museum shop.[31][32] Although the Memorial Building was one of the earliest buildings designed for the AWM, its design was not finalised until 1936.[5] The building was officially opened on 11 November 1941, it was not completed until several decades later.[7] Two extension wings, which utilised the same building design and materials, were built into the Memorial Building from 1968 to 1971.[1]
The building was designed in an
In 1937, the AWM's board commissioned Napier Waller to create large-scale murals and mosaics for the building, and Leslie Bowles to produce designs for a large-shaped sculpture. The AWM rejected several design proposals by Bowles' before his death, with Ray Ewers commissioned to continue working on Bowles' designs. Ewers's final design, Australian Serviceman was accepted in 1955, the same year Waller's mosaics were installed in the Memorial Building's Hall of Memory.[8] Waller's murals are the largest installed in Australia.[33]
Commemorative areas
The museum's commemorative area includes the courtyard and the Hall of Memory, located immediately after the Memorial Building's entrance. The courtyard contains a
The courtyard has 26 carved stone figures, representing Australian fauna and Indigenous people. the original plaster models were designed by Bowles and sculpted by W. Swan in 1940. However, as the carvings were made of Wondabyne sandstone, they suffered extensive deterioration until they were replaced in the 2010s.[33] Plants were introduced into the courtyard in 1977, to address a perceived need to soften the "austere" appearance of the area.[34] A granite cascade by Robert Woodward was added to the northern end of the pool in 1980, which was later replaced by an eternal flame in 1988.[36]
The Memorial Building's Hall of Memory is located north of the courtyard, in the domed portion of the structure. The dome itself is representative of the ascent of the dead. The Hall of Memory contains the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. The Hall also contained Ewer's completed statue until its relocation to the sculpture garden in the late 1990s. Four 11 metres (36 ft) pillars designed by
Museum areas
The Memorial Building's museum and exhibits are located on its lower levels and surround the building's commemorative sections. Several galleries in the Memorial Building are organised by conflict, like the First World War gallery and the Second World War gallery. The AWM also operates galleries that are not specific to a single conflict, like the Colonial Conflict gallery, Conflicts 1945 to Today gallery, the Aircraft Hall, and the Hall of Valour.[38] Although many of these galleries incorporate dioramas, most of them are located in the First and Second World War galleries. Most of these dioramas are made of hessian, plaster, timber, and lead, and were designed to be transportable.[39]
The First and Second World War galleries are made up of four interconnected galleries and are located in the oldest portions of the building. These interconnected galleries formerly had a skylight running its full length, although this was later covered up to protect items on display from exposure. The Second World War gallery was redeveloped in the late 1990s, while the First World War gallery was redeveloped in 2014. The Sinai and Palestine area in the First World War gallery is the only exhibition in the AWM that retained many of its original architectural and exhibition features.[31]
The Aircraft Hall, the Special Exhibition Gallery, the Orientation Gallery, and the Conflicts 1945 to Today Gallery are the newest galleries installed in the AWM. The former three galleries were installed in the late 1990s, and the latter gallery was installed in 2007–08.[40]
The Hall of Valour is another gallery that is located below the Hall of Memory and honours Australia's Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients. The AWM's collection contains a display of 76 of the 101 Victoria Crosses awarded to Australian soldiers and is the largest publicly held collection of the medal in the world.[41][note 1] This includes all nine Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians at Gallipoli: Alexander Burton, William Dunstan, John Hamilton, Albert Jacka, Leonard Keysor, Alfred Shout, William Symons, Hugo Throssell and Frederick Tubb.[43] The medal issued to Shout was provided to the AWM by Kerry Stokes, who purchased the medal for a world-record price of A$1,000,000 and asked that it be displayed in the Hall of Valour. The remains of a mosaic from a Byzantine church uncovered by Australian soldiers during the Second Battle of Gaza are also installed in the Hall of Valour.[31]
Sculpture garden
The western portion of the AWM grounds was remodelled in 1999 for use as a sculpture garden. The first sculpture placed in the garden was Ewers' Australian Serviceman statue, relocated from the Memorial Building's Hall of Memory. As of 2022, a total of 25 memorials or sculptures have been installed within the grounds of the AWM, and over 150 plaques which commemorate individual unit associations can be found in the gardens.[44]
In addition to the sculpture garden, several sculptures are also located on the eastern portion of the AWM grounds.[30]
Commemorative services
The Australian War Memorial organises a nightly commemorative service known as the Last Post service, as well as two national services for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day each year.[45]
Last Post ceremony
The Last Post ceremony was a tradition that began in 2013 and occurs each day 16:45
Off-site storage facility
Only five percent of the AWM's collection is displayed at any time, with the remainder being stored at the
Publications
The memorial played a key role in sponsoring the
The memorial also previously published a journal titled The Journal of the Australian War Memorial (
See also
- List of Australian military memorials
- List of Korean War memorials
- List of military museums
- Lists of war monuments and memorials
- Man in the mud, a diorama at the AWM
- World War I memorials
Notes
- The Lord Ashcroft.[42]
References
- ^ a b c d AWMMHMP 2022, p. 14.
- .
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 8.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e AWMMHMP 2022, p. 10.
- ^ "Origins of the Australian War Memorial". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d AWMMHMP 2022, p. 12.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 11.
- ISBN 0702224138.
- ^ "Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 16.
- ^ Hunter, Claire (23 November 2017). "Remembering the lost voices of the First World War | Australian War Memorial". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ a b Cerabona, Ron (29 May 2021). "Chris Latham's Vietnam Requiem a salve for war's old wounds". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Our Plans". www.awm.gov.au. Australian War Memorial. 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Gower re-appointed as director of Memorial" (PDF) (Press release). Australian War Memorial. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Memorial farewells Nola Anderson | Australian War Memorial". Australian War Memorial. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ "Australian War Memorial Director Appointed" (Press release). The Hon Warren Snowdon MP. 23 August 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "Australian War Memorial Director to retire from position" (Press release). Australian War Memorial. 15 August 2019.
- ^ "New Council Chair appointed". Australian War Memorial. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Kim Beazley elected Chair of Australian War Memorial Council". Australian War Memorial. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Anthony Albanese appoints Kim Beazley to Australian War Memorial council". The West. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b c AWMMHMP 2022, p. 2.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 3.
- ^ "Anzac Parade". National Capital Authority. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Remembrance Driveway". Roads and Traffic Authority. New South Wales Government. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Stone of Remembrance moved to Australian War Memorial Western Courtyard". www.miragenews.com. Mirage News. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 17.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 15.
- ^ a b c AWMMHMP 2022, p. 57.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 24.
- ^ a b c AWMMHMP 2022, p. 53.
- ^ a b c AWMMHMP 2022, p. 49.
- ^ a b c AWMMHMP 2022, p. 51.
- ^ a b AWMMHMP 2022, p. 50.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 189.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 170.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 169.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 52.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 56.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 54–55.
- ^ "Victoria Cross". Encyclopedia. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Lord Ashcroft Gallery". /www.lordashcroftmedals.com. Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Craig Blanch (23 April 2009). "Australia's Gallipoli Victoria Crosses". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ AWMMHMP 2022, p. 19.
- ^ "Commemorate". www.awm.gov.au. Australian War Memorial. 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Last Post Ceremony". www.rslaustralia.org. Returned & Services League of Australia. 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Fantin, Elise (18 June 2016). "Australian War Memorial overhauls donation process". ABC News. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ Ellery, David (17 September 2012). "Thousands flock to see AWM's hidden gems". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Official Histories". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Wartime magazine". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Wartime Issue 1: November 1997". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Journal of the Australian War Memorial". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
Further reading
- "Australian War Memorial Heritage Management Plan Revised Final Report" (PDF). www.awm.gov.au. Australian War Memorial. March 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- Bligh Voller Architects; Australian War Memorial (1997). Australian War Memorial Heritage Conservation Masterplan.
- Connor, J. R. (1970). A Guide to Canberra Buildings. Angus and Robertson.
- Crocket, G. (1997). Australian War Memorial Significance Assessment Report for Bligh Voller Nield Architects Pty Ltd.
- Fathi, Romain (2013). Représentations muséales du corps combattant de 14–18: L'Australian War Memorial de Canberra au prisme de l'Historial de la Grande Guerre de Péronne (in French). Paris: ISBN 978-2-336-00579-9. (210 pages)
- Garnett, Rodney; Hyndes, Danielle (1992). The Heritage of the Australian Capital Territory. National Trust of Australia (ACT) and others.
- Pearson, Michael (1995). Australian War Memorial Assessment of Significance. Unpublished report for Bligh Voller Architects and the Australian War Memorial.
- Pearson, M.; Crocket, G. (1995). Australian War Memorial Conservation Management Plan for Bligh Voller Architects and the Australian War Memorial.
- Ratcliffe, R. (1995). Report and Plans prepared for Bligh Voller Architects Pty Ltd.
- Teniswood-Harvery, Arabella (2016). "Reconsidering the Anzac Legend: Music, National Identity and the Australian Experience of World War I, as Portrayed in the Australian War Memorial's Art and Photographic Collection". Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography. 41 (1–2): 129–140. ISSN 1522-7464.