Shrine of Remembrance
Shrine of Remembrance | |
---|---|
Shrine of Remembrance Trustees | |
For the Australian soldiers of all wars post World War I | |
Established | 1918 |
Unveiled | November 11, 1934 |
Location | 37°49′50.0″S 144°58′24.4″E / 37.830556°S 144.973444°E |
Designed by | Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop |
Website | www.shrine.org.au |
Official name | Shrine of Remembrance |
Type | State Registered Place |
Criteria | a, c, d, e, g |
Designated | December 14, 1991 |
Reference no. | H0848[1] |
Heritage Overlay number | HO489[1] |
The Shrine of Remembrance (commonly referred to as The Shrine) is a war memorial in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road. It was built to honour the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I, but now functions as a memorial to all Australians who have served in any war. It is a site of annual observances for Anzac Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November), and is one of the largest war memorials in Australia.
Designed by architects
The Shrine went through a prolonged process of development, which began in 1918 with an initial proposal to build a Victorian memorial. Two committees were formed, the second of which ran a competition for the memorial's design. The winner was announced in 1922.[6] However, opposition to the proposal, led by Keith Murdoch and the Herald Sun, forced the governments of the day to rethink the design. A number of alternatives were proposed, the most significant of which was the Anzac Square and cenotaph proposal of 1926. In response, General Sir John Monash used the 1927 Anzac Day march to garner support for the Shrine, and finally won the support of the Victorian government later that year. The foundation stone was laid on 11 November 1927, and the Shrine was officially dedicated on 11 November 1934.[7]
History
Conception: 1918–1922
A war memorial in Melbourne was proposed as soon as the war ended in November 1918.[8] In the early 1920s the Victorian state government appointed the War Memorials Advisory Committee, chaired by Sir Baldwin Spencer, which recommended an "arch of victory" over St Kilda Road,[6] the major boulevard leading out of the city of Melbourne to the south. In August 1921 an executive committee was formed, with the former commander of the Australian forces in the war, General Sir John Monash, as its driving force. The committee soon abandoned the idea of an arch and proposed a large monumental memorial to the east of St Kilda Road,[9] a position which would make it clearly visible from the centre of the city.[10] A competition was launched in March 1922 to find a design for the new memorial, open both to British subjects residing in Australia and any Australian citizens who were residing overseas. A total of 83 entries were submitted,[9] and in December 1923 the design offered by two Melbourne architects (and war veterans), Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop, was announced as the winner.[11]
Opposition and response: 1922–1927
Sir John Monash (left), one of the leading proponents for the Shrine, and Keith Murdoch (right) editor-in-chief of the Melbourne paper The Herald, a leading opponent who described the proposed Shrine as "a tomb of gloom". |
The winning design had a number of supporters, including publications such as The Age and George Taylor's Sydney based trade journal, Building, prominent citizens including artist Norman Lindsay and University of Sydney Dean of Architecture, Leslie Wilkinson,[12] and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (who had been heavily involved in the competition).[13] Nevertheless, the design was also fiercely criticised in some quarters—especially by Keith Murdoch's Herald, Murdoch reportedly describing the Shrine as "too severe, stiff and heavy, that there is no grace or beauty about it and that it is a tomb of gloom"[14]—on the grounds of its grandiosity, its severity of design and its expense. As part of the campaign against the Shrine proposal, the Herald searched for alternative concepts, arguing that the funds could be better spent on more practical projects such as a hospital or a war widows' home.[15] Furthermore, some Christian churches also attacked the design as pagan for having no cross or other Christian element.[2]
The new Victorian
Nevertheless, both Monash and
Another early point of contention (although not explicitly related to the nature of the memorial) concerned the possibility of incorporating a "
Construction and dedication: 1927–1934
The foundation stone was laid on 11 November 1927, by the
Monash, who was also an engineer,[29] took personal charge of the construction,[28] which began in 1928 and was handled by the contractors Vaughan & Lodge.[30] Monash died in 1931, before the Shrine was finished,[29] but the Shrine was the cause "closest to his heart" in his later years.[31]
Work was finally completed in September 1934, and the Shrine was formally dedicated on 11 November 1934 by the Duke of Gloucester, witnessed by a crowd of over 300,000 people—a "massive turnout" given that Melbourne's population at the time was approximately 1 million,[32] and, according to Carl Bridge, the "largest crowd ever to assemble in Australia to that date".[33] During World War II, the Shrine housed an air raid shelter and zig-zag trenches were dug on the grounds to protect civilians from bomb blasts.[34]
Post World War II: 1945–1985
After World War II it was felt necessary to add to the Shrine an element commemorating the Australian war dead of the second great conflict. Once again a competition was run, with A. S. Fall and E. E. Milston as the joint winners.
In 1951 the body of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey, Australia's military commander during World War II, was held at the Shrine for three days for public viewing followed by a State funeral on site. 20,000 people visited the Shrine as he lay in state.[37]
During the Vietnam War the Shrine became a centre of conflict when anti-war demonstrators protested during ANZAC Day services against Australia's involvement in the war.[38] In 1971 the Shrine was defaced when the word PEACE! was painted in large white letters on the pillars of the north portico.[39]
In 1985 the Remembrance Garden was added beneath the western face of the Shrine to honour those who served during post-World War II conflicts.[40]
Redevelopment: 2002–present
Restoration work on the terraces surrounding the Shrine during the 1990s raised once again the possibility of taking advantage of the space under the Shrine: as the Shrine had been built on a hollow artificial hill, the undercroft (although at the time filled with rubble from the construction) provided a large space for development.
After this construction was complete, there were still more calls to further develop the site, and especially to provide facilities for education about the wars.[43] A $62 million proposal was presented in 2006, incorporating a museum and an underground carpark. Designed once again by Ashton Raggatt McDougall, the proposal was opposed by local residents and some council members,[46] and ran into significant funding problems when the Federal Government decided not to provide funding.[47]
In 2012 the Victorian Government announced that $22.5 million would be allocated to redevelop the Shrine's undercroft and extend it to the south. The new exhibition space, known as the "Galleries of Remembrance", was opened on Remembrance Day in 2014.
2021 demonstration
On September 22, 2021, during the sixth lockdown associated with COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,000 demonstrators amassed at the Shrine of Remembrance as a place to gather and peacefully protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.[50] The use of the war memorial for their protest was condemned, as was their behaviour at the event.[51][52][53][54] In a statement, RSL Victoria said: "Under no circumstances, ever, should the Shrine be a place of protest. If any individuals or groups choose to express their political views, positions or ideological theories in the grounds of the Shrine at any time, they are completely disrespecting the sanctity of this time-honoured space."[55] Demonstrators were eventually removed by Victoria Police officers who employed non-lethal rounds and tear gas.[56]
Architecture and features
Materials for building the Shrine were sourced from within Australia: the chosen building stone was
Exterior
The design of the Shrine is based on the ancient
Around the outer stone balustrade that marks the Shrine's external boundary are the 16 stone "battle honours" discs.
Interior
Inside the Shrine is the Sanctuary, a high vaulted space entered by four tall portals of Classical design. A simple entablature is carried on sixteen tall fluted Ionic columns and supports a frieze with twelve relief panels sculptured by Lyndon Dadswell, depicting the armed services at work and in action during World War I.[59] At the centre of the Sanctuary is the Stone of Remembrance.[5] This is a marble stone sunk below the pavement, so that visitors must bow their heads to read the inscription on it:
The inscription is part of a verse from the
Monash, with the advice of Professor T. G. Tucker and the assistance of Bernard O'Dowd and Felix Meyer, reworded Phillip Hudson's inscription which appears on the western wall of the Shrine:[23]
This inscription again aroused criticism, according to Taylor, "for having no Christian, (or, indeed, religious), element",[17] but was considered to fit the Australian tradition of "stoic patriotism".[23]
The inscription on the eastern wall, not written by Monash, reads:
The Sanctuary is surrounded by an
Crypt
Beneath the Sanctuary is the Crypt containing a bronze statue of a father and son, representing the two generations who served in the two world wars.[61] Around the walls are panels listing every unit of the AIF, down to battalion and regiment, along with the colours of their shoulder patch. The Crypt is hung with the standards of various battalions and regiments, listing their battle honours.
Visitor Centre
Visitors approach the shrine through the Entrance Courtyard, with "Lest We Forget" inscribed on one wall and a quote from former Governor-General
The gallery of Medals has a 40-metre-long (130 ft) wall displaying around 4,000 medals, each symbolically representing 100 Victorians who have served in war and peacekeeping operations, and six who have died.
World War II Forecourt
The cenotaph is a tall pillar constructed of Harcourt granite. Inscribed on its surface are the names of the defence forces, together with the theatres of war they served in.[65] Atop the cenotaph is a basalt sculpture of six servicemen carrying a bier with a corpse, draped by the Australian flag. The sculpture symbolises "the debt of the living to the dead". The Eternal Flame is placed nearby, representing eternal life.[65] The flame has burned continuously with few interruptions since it was first lit.[65][66]
At the other side of the forecourt are three flagpoles. The usual arrangement comprises the Australian flag on the left, the
Remembrance Garden
The Remembrance Garden features a pool, waterfall and Harcourt granite wall bearing the names of the conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australia participated following World War II, such as Kuwait (Gulf War) and East Timor.[40]
Shrine Reserve and environs
Although the original architects had proposed including four statues of war leaders, Monash rejected this plan. Instead there were to be no statues representing individual members of the
The Shrine is set in a large expanse of parkland officially called Kings Domain. Over the years many other war memorials have been built in this area, including the Australian-Hellenic Memorial to Australian and Greek dead in the Battles of Greece and Crete in 1941, and statues of Monash and Blamey. Most of the trees which line the approaches to the Shrine bear plaques commemorating individual Army units, naval vessels or Air Force squadrons, placed there by veterans' groups. An older memorial to Victorians killed in the Second Boer War of 1899–1902 is also located nearby on the corner of St Kilda and Domain Roads.[70]
The Driver and Wipers Memorial, also in the Shrine reserve, commemorates the thousands of Australian lives lost during the fighting at
On 19 July 2008, being the 92nd anniversary of the
Near to the Shrine entrance is the Legacy Garden of Appreciation, which was established in 1978. This cross-shaped garden is outlined by hedges. Red
A
Commemorative services
Since its dedication in 1934, the Shrine has been the centre of war commemoration in Melbourne. Although Remembrance Day (11 November) is the official day for commemorating the war dead, it has gradually been eclipsed in the public estimation by Anzac Day (25 April), which unlike Remembrance Day is a specifically Australian (and New Zealand) day of commemoration and a public holiday in both nations. Anzac Day at the Shrine is observed through a number of ceremonies. The first of these is the Dawn Service, an event that attracted a record crowd of more than 35,000 in 2007.[80] This is followed by an official wreath-laying service where officials march to the Shrine and lay wreaths in the Sanctuary. Later, the Anzac Day March approaches the Shrine via St Kilda Road and the forecourt, before being dismissed at the steps and is followed by a commemoration service held between 1 and 1:30pm.[81]
On Remembrance Day, Victorian leaders and community members gather "to remember those men and women who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations".[82] A minute's silence is observed at 11am[82] as the Ray of Light illuminates the word LOVE on the Stone of Remembrance.[83]
Throughout the rest of the year, ceremonies and wreath laying services are held by Victorian unit associations and battalions in the Sanctuary, around memorials in the Shrine Reserve and near remembrance trees specific to various associations.[84]
Management
The Shrine is managed by the Shrine of Remembrance Trustees, ten individuals appointed by the Governor in Council, on the advice of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the
Traditionally, security for the Shrine has been provided by the Shrine Guard, whose members were men with a military background. All of the original twelve members of the Shrine Guard had won bravery medals during World War I.[86] When the Shrine Guard merged with Victoria Police Protective Service, some civilians began to serve.[86] During the hours the Shrine is open to the public or in use for any ceremony, they wear a uniform representing an Australian Light Horseman of World War I, with Victoria Police insignia.[87]
See also
Other Anzac articles
- Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the name used to describe the combination of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during wartime
- .
- Anzac Day, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand on 25 April every year to commemorate the landing at Gallipoli
- Anzac spirit, a component of modern Australasian mythology describing the spirit of mateship and cheerful stoicism amongst Australians and New Zealanders
Notes
- ^ Government of Victoria. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Taylor, p. 101.
- ^ a b Royall (2007)
- ^ ISBN 0-674-00536-8.
- ^ a b c d e "The Sanctuary". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. pp. 8–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ a b Inglis (2008), pp. 301–302.
- ^ Taylor (2005), pp. 101–102
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 301.
- ^ a b Inglis (2008), p. 302.
- ^ "Background Information for Teachers". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Perry (2004), p. 483.
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 303.
- ^ Serle (1982), pp. 471–472.
- ^ Serle (1982), p. 472.
- ^ Perry (2004), pp. 483–484.
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 304.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, p. 102.
- ^ a b Sheehan (2007), p. 9
- ^ Perry (2004), p. 497.
- ^ Perry (2004), p. 499.
- ^ Perry (2004), pp. 499–500.
- .
- ^ a b c Serle (1982), p. 473.
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 310.
- ^ "Visitor information: Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- ^ "Victoria's National Memorial". History of the shrine ... a building with a soul. Shrine of Remembrance. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- ^ Hill (2003)
- ^ a b Inglis (2008), p. 307.
- ^ a b Serle (1986), pp. 543–549
- ^ a b c "Shrine of Remembrance & Public Art". National Trust of Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- ^ Serle (1982), p. 471.
- ^ Wilson (2004)
- ^ Bridge (2005)
- ^ "Shrine war trenches revealed in historic aerial images". www.land.vic.gov.au. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ Isaacson (1999) p. 51.
- ^ a b Isaacson (1999) p. 52.
- ^ Hetherington (1973), p. 399.
- ^ Inglis (2008), pp. 359–360.
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 360.
- ^ a b "Background Information for Teachers". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 13. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ Guerrera (2001), p. 8
- ^ Reed (2003), p. 8.
- ^ a b Day (2003)
- ^ Costello, Peter. "Speech at the opening of the Visitor Centre Shrine of Remembrance". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 11 August 2008.
- ^ Silkstone (2004)
- ^ Kleinman (2006), p. 9.
- ^ Duck (2006), p. 7.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- ^ "Shrine Galleries of Remembrance". Major Projects Victoria. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ Travers, Brianna; Delabasic, Suzan; Booth, Sarah; Ryan, Mitch; Jenkins, Olivia (22 September 2021). "Anti-vaccine protesters on Melbourne streets for third day". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Maiden, Samantha (23 September 2021). "Protesters 'urinated' on Shrine of Remembrance, left behind broken glass and litter". News.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Zagon, Chanel (23 September 2021). "Outrage over 'disgraceful' protests at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance". Nine News. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Murphy, Katherine (23 September 2021). "Melbourne protesters 'should be ashamed' after standoff at Shrine of Remembrance, Scott Morrison says". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Veterans slam protesters at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance". ABC News. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "'Disgrace to the nation': Veterans slam protesters at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance". SBS World News. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ Houston, Adam Carey, Erin Pearson, Cameron (22 September 2021). "Stand-off at Shrine ends in cloud of tear gas and hail of police rounds". The Age. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Wilson (2003), p. 6.
- ^ a b "Shrine Exterior". Shrine of Remembrance. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
- ^ Inglis (2008), p. 308.
- ^ "The Ambulatory". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "The Crypt". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. pp. 6–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "The Entry Courtyard". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
- ^ "Garden Courtyard". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "World War II Forecourt". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "World War II Forecourt". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. pp. 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ The Age: Man 'twice extinguished Shrine flame'
- ^ a b Inglis (2008), pp. 308–310.
- ^ a b c d "The Shrine Reserve". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. pp. 14–15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "Kings Domain". City of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- ^ "Outside the Shrine Reserve". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program: Background Information. Shrine of Remembrance. pp. 16–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "The Driver and Wipers Memorial". Shrine of Remembrance Education Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
- ^ "VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial". Department of Veteran's Affairs and Board of Studies NSW – Fromelles. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
- ^ McMullin, Ross (16 July 2008). "After 92 years cobbers stand tall". The Age. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
- ^ a b "Shrine Reserve". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ "Lone Pine – Shrine Reserve". City of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 16 September 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ Shrine of Remembrance. Heritage Victoria. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Significant trees: Lone Pine – Shrine Reserve". City of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 16 September 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ Smethurst, Annika (24 August 2012). "Melbourne's Lone Pine tree, planted with seeds from Gallipoli Peninsula, has been cut down". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ a b Smith, Bridie (22 June 2012). "Shrine's Lone Pine facing battle to death with attacking fungus". The Age. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ Harrison (2007)
- ^ "ANZAC Day". Shrine of Remembrance. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Remembrance Day – 11 November". Shrine of Remembrance. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Shrine of Remembrance". Only Melbourne. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Ceremonies and Wreath Laying". Shrine of Remembrance. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2011–2012". Shrine of Remembrance. Retrieved 3 January 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Minchin (2005), p. 9.
- ^ "Shrine Guard". Shrine of Remembrance. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
References
- .
- Day, Norman (20 October 2003). "Shrine of Remembrance". The Age.
- Duck, Siobhan (5 April 2006). "Funds call for Shrine". Malvern Prahran Leader. p. 7.
- Guerrera, Orietta (1 June 2001). "Pilgrimage easier at reshaped Shrine". The Age. p. 8.
- Harrison, Dan (25 April 2007). "'Record crowd' at Melbourne service". The Age. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- Hetherington, John (1973). Blamey, controversial soldier : a biography of Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey, GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED. The Australian War Memorial and the Australian Government Publishing service. ISBN 0-642-99382-3.
- Hill, Jeanette (9 December 2003). "Our show of strength". Herald Sun.
- ISBN 978-0-522-85479-4.
- Isaacson, Peter (1999). "Shrine of Remembrance". Victorian Historical Journal. 70 (1): 43–53.
- Kleinman, Rachel (29 March 2006). "Shrine plan under fire". The Age. p. 9.
- McMullin, Ross (16 July 2007). "After 92 years, cobbers stand tall at the Shrine". The Age. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- Minchin, Liz (23 April 2005). "At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, guards watch a sacred site". The Age. p. 9.
- ISBN 1-74051-280-4.
- Reed, Dimity (9 August 2003). "New-generation veneration – Shrine of Remembrance". The Age. p. 8.
- Royall, Ian (11 December 2007). "Shrine of Remembrance's structure in the wars". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- Serle, Geoffrey (1982). John Monash: A Biography. Victoria, Australia: ISBN 0-522-84239-9.
- Serle, Geoffrey (1986). "Monash, Sir John (1865–1931)". Melbourne University Press: 543–549. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
- Sheehan, Mark (November 2007). Australian Public Relations Campaigns: A select historical perspective 1899–1950 (PDF). Australian Media Traditions 2007, Distance and Diversity: Reaching New Audiences. Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- Silkstone, Dan (19 July 2004). "Medal awarded to St Kilda Road veteran who survived new trenches". The Age.
- Taylor, William (2005). "Lest We Forget: the Shrine of Remembrance, its redevelopment and the heritage of dissent" (PDF). Fabrications. 15 (2): 102. S2CID 162193990. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
- Wilson, Neil (9 August 2003). "Rise & shrine". Herald Sun. p. 6.
- Wilson, Neil (6 November 2004). "A special day for a very special place". Herald Sun.
- Worthy, Scott (2004). "Communities of Remembrance: Making Auckland's War Memorial Museum". Journal of Contemporary History. 39 (4, Special Issue: Collective Memory): 599. S2CID 159656652.