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What is a memorial?

Explore what a memorial is, and discover the story behind the Australian War Memorial and its founder Charles Bean.

Anzac Bridge memorial

Anzac Bridge memorial, Sydney NSW

How do you remember special things that happen to you? What special times/days help you remember something? (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries). Can you think of any special places that might help you remember something?

A 'memorial' is a place specially built for remembrance. You might like to explore a local memorial in your town or city, or even your school.

Are there clues as to when it was made?
Why might it have been made? Who or what does it commemorate?

The Australian War Memorial is the largest memorial in Australia. The very same questions of when, why, and how it was made can be asked to reveal information about people and the past.

Why do we have a national war memorial?

The story of the Australian War Memorial begins with the First World War. Depending on students' ages you may like to give a brief overview of the war and the large number of Australians involved.

Charles Bean travelled widely with the Australian soldiers serving overseas in this war, including on Gallipoli and the Western Front. Charles was not a soldier, however: he had a special job.

What might his job have been? Look for clues in the interactive slideshow below.

Where is Charles Bean?
What is he doing? What is he holding?

? Hot tip View full-screen and zoom/navigate with mouse or keyboard. Works best on smartboard or large display.

Charles was Australia's first official war correspondent - a journalist sent to cover the events of the war. This meant keeping detailed records, diaries, and notebooks.

What sort of things would a 'war correspondent' be looking at or writing about?
Why would this be important, particularly for people back home in Australia?

Why did Charles want a national memorial?

 

You can’t begin writing it too early. Do it now – write down everything in your diary.
— General Sir Ian Hamilton, 31 March 1915

 

As he travelled with the Australian soldiers, Charles kept lots of notebooks and diaries of everything he saw. In particular, what he witnessed in 1916 while in France made him want to build a national memorial back home so that Australians had somewhere to go to remember their friends and family who had served in wartime.

After the war, he drew a sketch of what this memorial might look like:

Hand drawn illustration of Bean's planned memorial

🔥 Hot tip The Memorial's Art of Nation project has more information about these original memorial plans, including 3D models that bring this sketch to life. It also explains why the Memorial today is different from Charles' sketch.

What does the Memorial look like today?

The Google Street View window below shows you what the Memorial looks like today. You might like to open it in a full-screen (click the icon in the top right corner in the window below) and take a 'virtual tour'.

What can you see?
How is it different from Charles' plan?
What would you like to know more about?

Activities

Investigate a local memorial

Investigate a local memorial

It could be a statue, garden, or even a school building named after someone significant.


Create a photo wall of special local places

Create a photo wall of special local places

This makes a great class project that everyone can be involved in.


Design a memorial

Design a memorial

Design a memorial

Construct a memorial with found materials. Who will you dedicate it to?


Organise a guest visit

Organise a guest visit

Perhaps there's a local RSL branch who could supply a guest visitor for a class talk?

Continue to next section
Why do we collect things?

Last updated: 3 June 2021

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.

Find out more
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.

Find out more
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.

Find out more
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.

Find out more
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

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