The Shrine of Remembrance, located in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia.

Is an
important and meaningful landmark as it honors the service and sacrifice of Australian
men and women who have served in armed combat and peacekeeping operations.
Dedicated in 1934 to commemorate First World War veterans it’s a place for sharing
and preserving important stories about war, peace, service and lessons learnt. The
Shrine provided a place where Victorians could grieve as individuals, as families or as a
community. It also served to honor the courage of the men, women and children who
remained at home. It now serves as a memorial for all Australians who served in war
and it is the site of annual observances of ANZAC Day (25 April) and Remembrance
Day ( 11 November).1

Accordingly, the design for the Shrine of Remembrance was selected by

competition among Australian artists and architects. Eighty-three designs were
1
Shrine of Remembrance. Retrieved from
https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Placestogo/MelbourneLandmarks/Historic/Pages/4465.aspx. Date
Accessed May 1, 2017.
submitted and the winning design was by two Melbourne returned-soldier architects,
Philip Hudson and James Wardrop who were both World War I veterans. The
inspiration for the external outline came from one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world the mausoleum at Halicarnassus to Mausolus, King of Caria in South West Asia
Minor.

The Shrine is in a classical style, the crowning element at the top of the memorial's
ziggurat roof references the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. The sanctuary contains
the marble Stone of Remembrance, upon which is engraved the words "Greater love
hath no man". A Ray of Light traces its path across the aperture in the roof to light up
the word "Love" in the inscription half hour as it does naturally at 11am on the 11th day
of the 11th month each year. Beneath the inner sanctum a labyrinth of galleries unfolds,
featuring over 800 artworks, historical artifacts and the personal effects of Australians at
war.

The foundation stone was laid on November 11, 1927, by the Governor of Victoria, Lord
Somers. Accordingly, both the Victorian and Commonwealth governments made
contributions was raised in less than six 2 months by public contributions. Work was
finally completed in September 1934 and the Shrine was formally dedicated on
November 11, 1934 by the Duke of Gloucester, witnessed by a crowd of over 300,000
people a "massive turnout" given that Melbourne's population at the time was
approximately 1 million and according to Carl Bridge, the "largest crowd ever to
assemble in Australia to that date".3

As of 2017, (present day), The Shrine is managed by a Board of Trustees, appointed by

the Victorian Government. The board is responsible for the care, management,
maintenance and preservation of the building and development of the Shrine. The
Shrine's security has been considerably improved in recent years. A group of Victoria
Police guards keep watch over the Shrine at all times. During the hours the Shrine is
open to the public or in use for any ceremony, they wear a uniform representing an
Australian Light Horseman of World War I with Victoria Police Force insignia.

2
Shrine of Remembrance. Retrieved from
https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Placestogo/MelbourneLandmarks/Historic/Pages/4465.aspx. Date
Accessed May 1, 2017.
Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne. Retrieved from http://www.shrine.org.au/About-Us/History. Date Accessed
May 1, 2017.
3
Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne. Retrieved from http://www.shrine.org.au/About-Us/History. Date Accessed
May 1, 2017.
UNDERSTANDING TEXT

As Shrine of Remembrance honored the service and sacrifice it also attracted

worldwide acclaim for its history, design and construction, Roland Barthes theory
underlies to the architectural designs through forms, functions, and colors envisioned by
the architect and reveal the hidden text behind those.

Hudson and Wardrop's design for the Shrine is highly symmetrical with strong
axial approaches from all directions. It drew on classical Greek sources in both form and
detail and incorporated refinements to correct optical illusions, as undertaken in
Classical Greece. Accordingly, the main form was based on the Mausoleum of
Halicarnassos with a stepped reinforced concrete, pyramidal roof rising above a
monumental cubic base. Octastyle Doric porticoes were applied to the north and south
elevations, based on the Parthenon and a large finial, based on the Choragic Monument
of Lysicrates, Athens, was included in the final design. Together these three sources
combine to produce a building based symbolically on a tomb, temple and monument. 4

Set in its own open gardens, which isolate and give the tomb like structure
prominence, the Shrine of Remembrance is superbly sited. It is nearby to the old
Observatory at the entrance to Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens and to Government House
and has spectacular views of Melbourne, aligned as it is with its heart.

4
Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne – Sacrifice and Nobility. Retrieved from
http://www.thecultureconcept.com/shrine-of-remembrance-melbourne-sacrifice-and-nobility. Date Accessed May
1, 2017
 The superstructure of the building is
clad externally with pale grey granite quarried from a Tynong quarry, which was opened
to supply the stone for this building. Stone sculptures were integral to the design of the
exterior and British sculptor Paul Montford was commissioned to undertake this work.
These sculptures include large winged figures buttressing the exterior corners of the
Shrine and friezes for the tympanum of the porticoes.

The interior sanctuary is square in plan and symmetrical about both axes and
incorporates sandstone cladding, a marble tile floor, sixteen dark Buchan marble Ionic
columns and twelve frieze panels, designed by young sculptor, Lyndon Dadswell. It
contains a bronze casket containing the names of Shrine fund contributors and copies
of the original drawings.
 Accordingly, in 1968 a bronze
sculpture, Father and Son by Ray Ewers, was installed in the center of the floor in which
accordingly, representing the two generations who went to war together.

In 1949 a competition was held for the design of a World War Two memorial.
This was won by Ernest E. Milston with a design for a forecourt on the northern side of
the Shrine, at a terrace level beneath the existing terraces. It replaced an existing
reflection pool, but involved no alterations to the Shrine itself.

The forecourt, dedicated by the Queen in

1954, is designed in the form of a cross, and comprised an eternal flame and cenotaph
on the western arm and three flagpoles on the eastern arm. The eternal flame is a brass
bowl with gas-fired flame, surrounded by a low bronze rail fence and the most
substantial of the three monuments, the cenotaph, is located behind this flame. 5

Furthermore, long may the tradition continue down-under, where the Shrine of
Remembrance at Melbourne is a fitting symbol for the success of our multi-culturalism.
It represents the nobility of all those it honors and commemorates for their service.

5
Victorian Heritage Database Report. Shrine of Remembrance. Retrieved from
http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/806/download-report. Date accessed May 1, 2017
November 11th at 11am is a traditional day of reflection, although if they think on it any
day should do for them to remember and reflect on the ongoing fight to retain those
rights and freedoms they enjoy today so valiantly defended. It is an ongoing battle,
against prejudice, injustice, infamy and repression.