Wouldn’t you agree that the Shrine of Remembrance is more than just a war memorial? It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Australia. It is a place where history echoes. The Shrine also honors the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I. Today, it commemorates all Australians who have served in any war.
The Shrine of Remembrance is commonly referred to as The Shrine. It is located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road. It is a site for annual observances. Anzac Day on 25 April and Remembrance Day on 11 November are both observed here. It is one of the largest war memorials in Australia.
World War I veterans Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop designed the Shrine. Its classical style draws inspiration from the Tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus and the Parthenon in Athens. The crowning element at the top of the ziggurat roof references the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.
The Shrine of Remembrance is built from Tynong granite. Originally, it consisted only of the central sanctuary surrounded by the ambulatory. Inside the sanctuary is the marble Stone of Remembrance. Engraved upon it are the words “Greater love hath no man”.
Each year on Remembrance Day, 11 November, at 11 a.m. a ray of sunlight shines through an aperture in the roof. It lights up the word “Love” in the inscription.
Beneath the sanctuary lies the crypt. Inside is a bronze statue of a soldier father and son. Panels list every unit of the Australian Imperial Force.
The Shrine’s development was a prolonged process. It began in 1918 with a proposal for a Victorian memorial. Two committees were formed. The second ran a competition for the memorial’s design. The winner was announced in 1922.
However, opposition arose. Keith Murdoch and the Herald Sun led the charge. They forced the government to rethink the design. Alternatives were proposed. The most significant was the Anzac Square and cenotaph proposal of 1926.
In response, General Sir John Monash used the 1927 Anzac Day march to rally support. He won the support of the Victorian government later that year. The foundation stone was laid on 11 November 1927. The Shrine was officially dedicated on 11 November 1934.
Materials for the Shrine came from within Australia. The building stone was granodiorite from Tynong. Internal walls use sandstone from Redesdale. Black marble columns use stone from Buchan.
Inside the Shrine is the Sanctuary. It is a high vaulted space entered by four tall portals of Classical design. A simple entablature is carried on sixteen tall fluted Ionic columns. It supports a frieze with twelve relief panels. Lyndon Dadswell sculpted these panels. They depict the armed services during World War I.
At the centre of the Sanctuary sits the Stone of Remembrance. The inscription is part of a verse from the Bible. It reads “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
The Stone aligns with an aperture in the roof. Sunlight falls on the word LOVE at exactly 11 a.m. on 11 November. This marks the hour and day of the Armistice that ended World War I. Daylight saving in Victoria means the ray of sunlight is no longer in the right place at 11 a.m. A mirror has been installed to direct sunlight onto the Stone at 11 a.m.
The Sanctuary is surrounded by an ambulatory. Along it are forty-two bronze caskets. They contain hand-written Books of Remembrance. These books list every Victorian who enlisted for active service in World War I or died in camp.
Beneath the Sanctuary, the Crypt features a bronze statue. It represents the two generations who served in the two world wars. Panels around the walls list every unit of the AIF. They go down to battalion and regiment. The panels also show the colours of their shoulder patch.
The Shrine of Remembrance stands as a reminder. It honors sacrifice. It embodies the spirit of remembrance. The Shrine serves as a place of reflection. It allows all to contemplate the cost of war. It reminds us of the importance of peace.