Leslie Massey
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national memorial, museum, and archive dedicated to Australians who died as a result of war. It is located in Campbell, a suburb of Canberra, and consists of five buildings and a sculpture garden. The AWM was formally established through federal legislation in 1925, with designs created by Emil Sodersten and John Crust. The Memorial Building houses the museum and exhibits, with galleries organised by conflict, such as the First and Second World War galleries, and thematic exhibits like the Aircraft Hall and the Hall of Valour. The Hall of Memory, located beyond the Flame of Remembrance, features a mosaic interior, stained-glass windows, and the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. The Roll of Honour, installed in 1961, commemorates the names of over 102,000 Australians killed in wars, with panels added after the 1960s to include those who perished in subsequent conflicts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Campbell, a suburb of the Australian capital city of Canberra |
| Number of buildings | 5 |
| Other features | A sculpture garden, a courtyard, a reflecting pool, the Hall of Memory, the Roll of Honour, the Hall of Valour |
| Material of the courtyard's 26 carved stone figures | Wondabyne sandstone |
| Features of the Hall of Memory | The interior wall and high dome clad in a six-million-piece mosaic, stained-glass windows, the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier |
| Features of the Roll of Honour | Bronze panels with the names of the fallen |
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What You'll Learn
The Australian War Memorial's architecture
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national memorial, museum, and archive dedicated to all Australians who died as a result of war, including peacekeeping duties. The AWM is located in Campbell, a suburb of the Australian capital city of Canberra. The grounds include five buildings and a sculpture garden. Most of the museum galleries and commemorative areas are contained in the Memorial Building.
The Memorial Building's museum and exhibits are located on its lower levels and surround the building's commemorative sections. The AWM features galleries dedicated to the First and Second World Wars, and thematic exhibits such as the Aircraft Hall, the Special Exhibition Gallery, the Orientation Gallery, the Conflicts 1945 to Today Gallery, and the Hall of Valour. 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 galleries incorporate dioramas, most of which 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.
The courtyard contains a reflecting pool and steps up to its northern end, leading to the Hall of Memory. The courtyard is lined by arched cloisters, with the Roll of Honour positioned behind them. The Roll of Honour panels were installed in 1961 to commemorate the dead of World War I, with subsequent panels installed after the 1960s to commemorate the dead from other conflicts. The Roll of Honour is situated on the east, west, and southern walls of the courtyard and contains the names of over 102,000 Australians killed in war. The courtyard also features 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.
The Hall of Memory stands at the head of the Pool of Reflection, beyond the Flame of Remembrance. Its interior wall and high dome are clad in a six-million-piece mosaic and illuminated by stained-glass windows. Inside lies the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, installed in 1993 to symbolise all Australians who died in war.
Plans to build the AWM were initiated shortly after the First World War, with the memorial formally established through federal legislation in 1925. Designs were created by Emil Sodersten and John Crust, but the onset of the Great Depression delayed construction. Work progressed in the mid-1930s, and the AWM was officially opened to the public in 1941. From the 1980s to the 2000s, several structures designed by Denton Corker Marshall were built on the grounds to house additional exhibits and administrative offices.
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The Memorial's sculptures and carvings
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national memorial, museum and archive dedicated to all Australians who died as a direct or indirect result of war, including peacekeeping duties. The AWM is located in Campbell, a suburb of Canberra, the Australian capital. The grounds include five buildings and a sculpture garden. The Memorial Building houses most of the museum galleries and commemorative areas.
In 1993, the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier was installed inside the Memorial Building's Hall of Memory, symbolising all Australians who have died in war. The interior wall and high dome of the Hall of Memory are clad in a six-million-piece mosaic and illuminated by stained-glass windows. The First and Second World War galleries are made up of four interconnected galleries in the oldest portions of the building. These galleries once had a skylight running their full length, but it was later covered to protect the items on display. The Second World War gallery was redeveloped in the late 1990s, and the First World War gallery in 2014. The Aircraft Hall, Special Exhibition Gallery, Orientation Gallery, and Conflicts 1945 to Today Gallery are newer additions to the AWM. The Hall of Valour, located below the Hall of Memory, honours Australia's Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients.
The AWM's galleries and exhibitions explore Australia's involvement in major conflicts and aim to tell the country's continuing story of service, sacrifice and military history. The dioramas in the First and Second World War galleries are made of hessian, plaster, timber, and lead, and were designed to be transportable. Charles Bean, who played a key role in the development of the Memorial, emphasised that it should not glorify war or triumph over the enemy. He suggested that exhibitions should "avoid glorification of war and boasting of victory" and "perpetuating enmity".
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The Hall of Memory
The hall's stained-glass windows are dedicated to the First World War, while the Second World War is commemorated through wall mosaics. The mosaics depict scenes of destruction and the sacrifices made by servicewomen, symbolised by a centaur—an emblem of the hospital ship Centaur, which was sunk, resulting in the loss of all but one of the nurses on board.
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The Roll of Honour
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national memorial, museum, and archive dedicated to Australians who died as a result of war, including peacekeeping duties. The Roll of Honour is an integral part of the memorial, commemorating the dead and those who have sacrificed their lives in service.
The Australian War Memorial's mission extends beyond the Roll of Honour. It aims to assist Australians in remembering, interpreting, and understanding the nation's experience of war and its lasting impact on society. The memorial's galleries and exhibitions explore Australia's involvement in significant conflicts, shedding light on the country's military history and stories of sacrifice.
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The museum's dioramas
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national memorial, museum, and archive dedicated to all Australians who died as a result of war, including peacekeeping duties. The AWM is located in Campbell, a suburb of Canberra, Australia's capital. The grounds include five buildings and a sculpture garden. The Memorial's galleries and exhibitions explore Australia's involvement in major conflicts, helping to tell the country's continuing story of service, sacrifice, and military history.
The Memorial Building's museum and exhibits are located on its lower levels and surround the building's commemorative sections. The AWM features several galleries dedicated to specific conflicts, such as the First World War gallery and the Second World War gallery, and thematic exhibits like the Aircraft Hall and the Hall of Valour. Although many of these galleries incorporate dioramas, most of them are located in the First and Second World War galleries.
The museums' dioramas are an important part of the exhibition experience at the AWM. Dioramas are three-dimensional models that depict a scene or event, often using a combination of painted backgrounds and modelled figures or objects. They are designed to be visually engaging and immersive, allowing visitors to step into a particular moment in history. Most of the dioramas in the AWM are made of hessian, plaster, timber, and lead, and were designed to be transportable. This construction allows them to be moved between different galleries or exhibitions as needed.
The dioramas in the AWM depict various scenes and events from Australia's military history, particularly focusing on the First and Second World Wars. These dioramas aim to tell the stories of Australian service members and their experiences during these conflicts. They may showcase different aspects of military life, such as combat scenes, life in the trenches, preparations for battles, or the aftermath of engagements. By using three-dimensional models and detailed backgrounds, the dioramas provide a glimpse into the past, offering visitors a sense of what it might have been like to live through those tumultuous times.
The use of dioramas in museums, including the AWM, has both advantages and considerations. One advantage is their ability to visually engage and immerse visitors in the exhibited history. Dioramas can make historical events more relatable and understandable, especially for younger audiences. They can also showcase artefacts or relics within a contextual setting, providing a narrative framework that enhances their impact. Additionally, dioramas can be designed to be interactive, allowing visitors to explore and discover information at their own pace, fostering a deeper connection with the content. However, one consideration is the potential for dioramas to become outdated or require updates over time. As historical research and interpretations evolve, dioramas may need to be modified or redesigned to incorporate new findings or perspectives.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) consists of five buildings and a sculpture garden. The AWM was designed by Emil Sodersten and John Crust, with additional structures designed by Denton Corker Marshall. The exact materials used to construct the memorial are currently unknown.
The courtyard of the sculpture garden contains a reflecting pool and steps leading up to the Hall of Memory. The courtyard is lined by arched cloisters, with the Roll of Honour positioned behind them. The Roll of Honour panels were installed in 1961 to commemorate the dead of World War I, with subsequent panels installed after the 1960s to commemorate the dead from other conflicts. The courtyard also features 26 carved stone figures, representing Australian fauna and Indigenous people.
The Hall of Memory is a towering hall with its interior wall and high dome clad in a six-million-piece mosaic and illuminated by stained-glass windows. Inside lies the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, a symbolic national shrine.
The Memorial Building houses the museum and exhibits located on its lower levels, surrounding the building's commemorative sections. The First and Second World War galleries are made up of four interconnected galleries and are located in the oldest portions of the building. The Second World War gallery was redeveloped in the late 1990s, and the First World War gallery was redeveloped in 2014.
The Australian War Memorial features several other galleries, including the Colonial Conflict gallery, Conflicts 1945 to Today gallery, the Aircraft Hall, and the Hall of Valour. The memorial also holds several commemorative services, including a nightly Last Post service and national services for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
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