Places of Pride: a new cinematic film sits in the heart of the New Main Entrance foyer

The Australian War Memorial’s new main entrance now features a cinematic short film, Places of Pride, showcasing the diversity of memorials across Australia that honour the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans.  

Over 40 locations nationwide were filmed to capture a range of memorials, monuments, plaques and unique sites that commemorate those who served in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping operations.

“Our aim was to showcase the diversity of commemoration across Australia and highlight as many different types of service as possible. All states and territories are represented, as well as each arm of defence and all major conflicts,” said Terri-Anne Simmonds, Head of Digital Experience at the Australian War Memorial.

Filming took place throughout 2024, with the finished film ready for the opening of the Memorial’s new Main Entrance.

The film is an extension of the Places of Pride project, an Australian War Memorial initiative launched in 2018 to record and photograph every war memorial across the country.

“There are over 12,000 memorials currently recorded on the Places of Pride website and we invite the public to contribute their local memorials with photos or stories,” Ms Simmonds said.

Alongside the film is an Interactive Map Screen where visitors can enter an Australian postcode to find memorials in their region.

Following an arc from dawn to dusk, the cinematic film plays on a continuous loop in the Main Entrance foyer. Whether showcasing memorials in a bustling capital city or remote rural village, it spans the breadth of the nation – from Thursday Island in northern Queensland to Broome, WA, and dozens of places in between.

Visit the Main Entrance to experience this poignant tribute firsthand.

Find your local memorial on placesofpride.awm.gov.au