The Australian War Memorial is celebrating 70 years
This year marks the Memorial’s 70th Anniversary. To celebrate this important milestone there will be a weeklong program of events from 5-11 November. Highlights of this program include a performance in the Hall of Memory by the Oriana Chorale, Australian Federation Guard Closings from Monday to Friday 7-11 November, Historian, Curator and Art Curator talks and presentations and tours behind the stacks at the Research Centre, as well as a special presentation of Charles Bean’s Diaries. The culmination of these events will be the Remembrance Day National Ceremony.
The Australian War Memorial was opened on 11 November 1941, commemorating the sacrifice of all Australians who have died in war. Its focus is the Hall of Memory, Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, Pool of Reflection, and Roll of Honour (listing the names of more than 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who have died in war). The Memorial also includes multi-million dollar world class exhibitions and galleries, an extensive collection of art, relics, photographs, film, and sound.
The Memorial today is one of Australia’s leading tourist attractions and educators. Last year 832,242 visitors including 125,000 school students visited to experience and view the exhibits. The Memorial’s website also had 3.11 million visits, and there were 10.5 million queries on the online databases.
The newly released Hall of Memory booklet offers fascinating insights into this most special place.
Saturday 5 November
| 10:00 – 12:00 |
Researching your family’s military service - Learn how to use the collection and resources of the Australian War Memorial’s Research Centre to discover what your relatives did during the wars. Bring along information you already know about your relative to get started on your family history research. Bookings essential, please call 02 6243 4315, maximum 20 participants. |
Sunday 6 November
| 1:00-1:30 |
Oriana Chorale performance in the Hall of Memory including They are Here, the piece written by Anthony Briggs for the entombment of the Unknown Australian Soldier. |
Monday 7 November
| 10:15-10.30 |
Public talk - Hall of Memory. Heartfelt stories, reflecting the profound experiences of Australians at war, inspired by the defining qualities of Australian servicemen and women - devotion, comradeship, patriotism and audacity . This talk will be held in the Commemorative Area |
|
11:00-11.15 |
Public talk - Pozieres. Uncovering the story behind the battle of Pozieres. This talk will be held in the First World War Gallery |
|
11:30-12:15 (new time) |
Public talk - “Official war art at the Australian War Memorial 1916 – now” delivered by Laura Webster, Art Curator and held in the BAE Systems Theatre. |
|
12:30–1:20 |
Public tour - “The history of the Australian War Memorial: Charles Bean's vision realised?" delivered by Ashley Ekins, Head of Military History. Please meet in the Orientation Gallery. |
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4:00–5:00 |
70th Anniversary Closing Ceremony including Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party. |
Tuesday 8 November
| 10:15-10.30 |
Public talk - Hall of Memory. Heartfelt stories, reflecting the profound experiences of Australians at war, inspired by the defining qualities of Australian servicemen and women - devotion, comradeship, patriotism and audacity. This talk will be held in the Commemorative Area. |
|
11:00-11.15 |
Public talk - Pozieres. Uncovering the story behind the battle of Pozieres. This talk will be held in the First World War Gallery. |
|
11:30–12:15 |
Public talk - “Official war art and contemporary conflicts” delivered by Warwick Heywood, Senior Curator of Art and held in the BAE Systems Theatre. |
|
12:30-1:30 |
Public tour - “Secrets of the Australian War Memorial” delivered by Peter Burness. Please meet in the Orientation Gallery |
|
1:30–2:30 |
Behind-the-scenes in the Research Centre - Come along for a behind the scenes look at the archive and library collections of the Research Centre at the Australian War Memorial. Learn about the history and development of the collection while viewing interesting and unique items from the collection. Bookings essential, please call (02) 6243 4315, maximum 20 participants. |
|
4:00–5:00 |
70th Anniversary Closing Ceremony including Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party. |
Wednesday 9 November
| 10:15-10.30 |
Public talk - Hall of Memory. Heartfelt stories, reflecting the profound experiences of Australians at war, inspired by the defining qualities of Australian servicemen and women - devotion, comradeship, patriotism and audacity. This talk will be held in the Commemorative Area. |
|
11:00-11.15 |
Public talk - Pozieres. Uncovering the story behind the battle of Pozieres. This talk will be held in the First World War Gallery. |
|
11:30–12:30 |
Public talk - “The papers of C.E.W. Bean” - Join the Senior Curator of Official and Private Records, Craig Tibbitts, to learn about and view the papers of C.E.W. Bean that were created during the First World War and writing the official history. This talk will be held in the Western Courtyard Gallery. |
|
12:30–1:20 |
Public tour - “The history of the Australian War Memorial: Charles Bean's vision realised?" delivered by Ashley Ekins, Head of Military History. Please meet in the Orientation Gallery. |
|
4:00–5:00 |
70th Anniversary Closing Ceremony including Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party. |
Thursday 10 November
| 10:15-10.30 |
Public talk - Hall of Memory. Heartfelt stories, reflecting the profound experiences of Australians at war, inspired by the defining qualities of Australian servicemen and women - devotion, comradeship, patriotism and audacity. This talk will be held in the Commemorative Area. |
|
11:00-11.15 |
Public talk - Pozieres. Uncovering the story behind the battle of Pozieres. This presentation will be held in the First World War Gallery. |
|
12:30–1:15 |
Public talk - “What does it take to be an Official War Artist?” presentation by the Head of Art Lola Wilkins in the BAE Systems Theatre. |
|
1:30–2:30 |
Behind-the-scenes in the Research Centre. Come along for a behind-the-scenes look at the archive and library collections of the Research Centre at the Australian War Memorial. Learn about the history and development of the collection while viewing interesting and unique items from the collection. Bookings essential, please call (02) 6243 4315, maximum 20 participants. |
|
4:00–5:00 |
70th Anniversary Closing Ceremony including Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party. |
Friday 11 November
Please note the Australian War Memorial will be closed until the National Ceremony concludes at approximately 12.15pm.
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10:15–12:00 |
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4:00–500 |
70th Anniversary Closing Ceremony including Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party and closing presentation by the Head of Military History, Mr Ashley Ekins. |
