History of the Shrine

The form the memorial would take was hotly debated. Some people believed it should take the form of something practical like a hospital or a bridge. Others thought it should be a commemorative monument such as an arch or cenotaph. General Sir John Monash, Deputy Chairman of the Victorian War Memorials Committee, supported the proposal for a permanent memorial.

An international competition determined the design of the Shrine of Remembrance. Australian artists and architects submitted 83 designs. Two Melbourne returned-soldier architects, Philip Hudson and James Wardrop created the winning design. Their design was inspired by the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The announcement of the winning design caused debate amongst the public which almost derailed the project.

A granite Memorial Horse Trough was unveiled on St Kilda Road. The trough, which honours the service of horses to Australian service, was later moved to its current position on Birdwood Avenue in 1987. It now forms part of the Gallipoli Memorial.

The public controversy related to the winning design almost led to the project being abandoned. General John Monash is credited with ‘saving’ the development via his speech on Anzac Day eve 1927, supporting the winning design. The first sod was turned by the then Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Stephen Morell on 24 October.

The foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Lieutenant-Colonel, the Right Honourable Baron Somers, on 11 November.

Tenders for the construction of the Shrine of Remembrance went out. 7 submissions were received. Builders and stonemasons Vaughan and Lodge were appointed. The first concrete was poured, and the 7-year construction of the Shrine commenced.

A seedling from a pinecone brought from the Lone Pine battlefield on the Gallipoli Peninsula is was planted in the Shrine Reserve. The seed came from a pinecone brought back by Private Thomas McDowell, 23rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force on his return to Melbourne after the First World War. Its descendant lives on today.

Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and son of King George V, officially opened the Shrine before a crowd of 300,000 people.

Twelve highly decorated veterans of the First World War are appointed as Shrine Guard to protect the Shrine and provide ceremonial support.

The small bronze sculpture 'Man with the Donkey' was erected. It was sculpted by Victorian-born William Wallace Anderson, a Gallipoli veteran. This sculpture makes up part of the Gallipoli memorial located near the Visitor Centre entrance.

The Second World War Memorial Forecourt was completed. The Forecourt, which includes the Cenotaph and Eternal Flame was dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The flame, symbolising eternal life, was lit by Her Majesty during the dedication. The Cenotaph is a single pillar of stone rising 12.5 metres, topped with a carving made from Footscray basalt, designed by sculptor George Allen. The carving depicts 6 men in the uniforms of the 3 Australian services—the Navy, Army and Air Force, carrying a dead comrade draped in the Australian national flag.

The Shrine’s Remembrance Garden and Post-1945 memorial was opened by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Cain. By this time Australia had participated in 4 conflicts since the end of the Second World War—Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam. The locations of further conflicts have been added since then.

Casts of two sculptures entitled Wipers and The Driver by British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger, purchased by The Felton Bequest in 1937, and originally displayed on Swanston Street in front of the State Library, were transferred to the Shrine grounds. The Legacy Garden of Appreciation (formerly the Garden of Memory 1980-86) was dedicated and a sculpture Widow and Children by Louis Laumen was installed.

Stage one of the Shrine’s redevelopment was completed. Designed by architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall (ARM), this work included the addition of the Shrine Visitor Centre, a new underground entry and the Visitor Centre courtyard

A cast of the bronze sculpture 'Cobbers' by Peter Corlett, the memorial to Australian service and sacrifice at the Battle of Fromelles (19 July 1916). This sculpture was installed on the Shrine Reserve. The original cast of the sculpture had been placed in Fromelles itself in 1998.

The Women's Garden was relocated from the King’s Domain to the Shrine Reserve. Designed by landscape architect Katherine Rekaris, both the garden and memorial cairn honour the women who served Australia from the Boer War through to 1985, when the women’s and men’s services were finally amalgamated.

Stage two of the Shrine redevelopment by ARM opens. This work included the addition of the Galleries of Remembrance utilising the 1,600 square metres of undercroft space beneath the Shrine monument, the Terrace Courtyard and the Education Courtyard.