Our Plans

Officially opened in 1941, the Australian War Memorial is an iconic building of national significance. Located in line of sight of Australian Parliament House, our Memorial reminds the nation of the cost of war, and the effects of service.

Our values, our character and our identity live on in the stories of past, present and future service members, their families and community. More than one million people visit our Memorial every year to honour these members’ service and learn about their experiences in war, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations.

Our expansion of the Memorial will create a fitting home for their stories, for generations of Australians to come.

It will significantly increase exhibition and public program space, including new temporary exhibition space; improved visitor orientation, wayfinding, and amenities; areas for respite and reflection; new education facilities; a theatre and functions space; a quiet area for reflection; and space to be used by veterans’ organisations.

There will be an extension to the Bean Building on the eastern side of the precinct to integrate research collections and services, additional exhibition space added to Anzac Hall, and optimisation of exhibition space in the main Memorial building. Sensitively connected to the existing landscape, and providing an improved Southern Entry, the detailed plans will ensure the original heritage façade remains unchanged.

In response to public interest and requests for background information regarding our reference design, we have made two documents available to the public online – the Options Assessment and papers from the meeting of the Council where four shortlisted options were discussed. By sharing this information our aim is to help the community, particularly our veterans, their families and descendants, understand the vision for the future of our Memorial.

Our plans will be developed in stages, with input from experienced architects and designers, and in consultation with our local community and the broader Australian public. We will publish these on this page as they become available.

Early works

Public consultation regarding the Poppy’s Café car park extension closed on 5 November. Information will be made available on the National Capital Authority's (NCA) website.
The extension will provide an additional 123 parking spaces for Memorial visitors. The works also include installation of a temporary car park (to be in place for approximately five years) on top of the basement carpark, providing 115 parking spaces for construction workers involved in the development project.

We will return the site to a native flora based landscaped site at the conclusion of the project. This will improve the final outcome through the use of local species of tree and improved strata coverage (ground, mid storey and canopy varieties) that will discourage adapted imported species and encourage local birds and wildlife to the space.

If you have any questions, pleases consult our FAQs or email development@awm.gov.au.