This memorial, located about 50m from the National Carillon and easily recognised as you walk along the northern shore of the central basin of Lake Burley Griffin is a five tonne anchor and chain of the type typically carried by a naval cruiser like the HMAS Canberra which it commemorates. The base of the memorial is in the shape of a ship. Continue reading “HMAS Canberra Memorial – Sunk in Service”
This memorial, located about 100m from the National Carillon and next to the HMAS Canberra Memorial at the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, commemorates the contribution of the Merchant Navy during World Wars I and II. Continue reading “Merchant Navy Memorial – Fitting Waterside Tribute”
The National Emergency Services Memorial was dedicated by then Prime Minister, John Howard, on 12 July 2004 to honour those who have served and were injured or died in Australia’s emergency management and service organisations. Continue reading “National Emergency Services Memorial”
Inaugurated in April 1970 (with the accompanying globe referred to below) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the bicentenary of Captain James Cook’s discovery of the east coast of Australia this fountain/jet sits in Lake Burley Griffin in front of the National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point. Continue reading “Captain Cook Memorial Fountain and Globe”
While prominently located on the main street of Bundoran, with a beautiful view out across the Atlantic Ocean, you will not find reference to the Republican Garden (of Remembrance) in the town’s primary tourist brochure ‘Discover Bundoran’ or on the website of the same name. Clearly this is not something that will be to everyone’s taste and many will find it distasteful. Continue reading “Republican Garden”
This ornate four sided trachyte stone World War One memorial commemorates the 750 men from the Pyrmont – Ultimo district who enlisted in the Australian Expeditionary Forces during the Great War. All are named on the base of the memorial. Of the 750 enlistees, 150 lost their lives during the war and many more were wounded. Continue reading “Pyrmont War Memorial”
I don’t know why but I have always found it rather disconcerting that a war memorial be placed in a location more renowned for depravity and debauchery than commemoration of battles in distant lands. Placed in the centre of Kings Cross (affectionately referred to simply as The Cross), Sydney’s notorious red light district, it is hardly surprising that this memorial has become known locally as the elephant douche. Continue reading “The El Alamein Fountain”
Until 1967 Indigenous Australians did not have the right to vote and were not included in Australia’s census counts.
This effective non-recognition of Indigenous people as Australian citizens was particularly troublesome for the authorities when it came to them serving, or not, in the armed services. Continue reading “Yininmadyemi – Thou Didst Let Fall”
This is the only piece of statutory in Canberra which falls into the category of bold, imposing and larger than life pieces, befitting of Empire. Continue reading “King George V Memorial – View Spoiler?”
I am aware that many old schools have Rolls of Honour remembering those who you took part and died in World War I. Indeed my own former school Portora Royal School in Northern Ireland had one. Continue reading “Glebe Superior Public School War Memorial”
The Rambling Wombat 