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  3. Ceremonial customs

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Ceremonial customs

 Anzac Day 2021.  Photo: Alix heraid

Hall of Memory, Anzac Day 2021.
Photo: Alix Heraid

Commemorative ceremonies, such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, share many customs and traditions. Explore the origins and significance of these with the links below.

Customs and traditions

Silhouette of Australian buglar

The Last Post

Commemorative wreaths

Laying of wreaths

Engraved stone with the words of The Ode

The recitation (including the Ode)

The Flanders Memorial in the sculpture garden

A period of silence

The red poppy

Flanders poppies

The Flanders poppy has long been a part of Remembrance Day, the ritual that marks the Armistice of 11 November 1918, and is also increasingly being used as part of Anzac Day observances.

Historical photograph of buglar

The Rouse and the Reveille

The guard of honour in the Hall of Memory

Reversed arms

Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier

The unknown soldier

The Unknown Australian Soldier represents all Australians who have been killed in war.

The Lone Charger

The lone charger

Gun carriage

The gun carriage

A sprig of rosemary

Rosemary

Rifle volley salute

Rifle volleys and gun salutes

Original handwritten copy of In Flanders Fields

Poems

The Australian flag at half mast

Flags at half mast

A piper at the Memorial's Last Post Ceremony

The lone piper and Flowers of the forest

Last updated: 23 February 2022

Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

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The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

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The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

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Visit the Australian War Memorial

Visit the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is open for visitors as we work to expand our galleries. All visitors require a free timed ticket to enter the Memorial Galleries and attend the Last Post Ceremony.

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Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
Location map of The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

 

In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

galleries are progressively closed from 4 pm.

 

Public entrance via Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell ACT 2612

Book your ticket to visit: awm.gov.au/visit

 


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