Victoria’s Landmark: Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria’s national war memorial. Opened in 1934 to commemorate World War I veterans, it is now used as a war memorial to pay tribute to all Australians who gave their lives for the nation.
The Shrine of Remembrance at Kings Domain on St Kilda Road is a Melbourne landmark. It is a place for visitors to Melbourne, and it is also the site of annual commemorative events for Anzac Day (April 25) and Remembrance Day (November 11). People can come here to learn about the nation’s military efforts and the soldiers who have given their lives for Australia and the world. Regular ceremonies and parades are held here each year. I visited the Shrine of Remembrance with friends in 2019.
Commissioned by the Victorian government, the construction of the Shrine of Remembrance was begun in 1928 by Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop, two architects who also fought in World War I. It was built in a classical style inspired by the impressive tomb of Motholos at Halicarnassus and the world-famous Parthenon in Athens.
In the center of the Memorial Hall is a distinctive black marble memorial stone with the inscription “ Greater love hath no man”.This stone sinks below the ground, and every visitor who enters the museum will not be able to touch it. They will look down at the stone tablet silently, and cherish the memory of those soldiers who gave their lives for peace. A small opening in the pyramid-shaped dome of the Sanctuary of the Shrine allows a beam of light to pass through the stone, rest on the word “love” at exactly the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the moment at which the worst war the world had ever experienced ended. In addition to this, many of the memorial’s designs have special meaning and are used to honor the soldiers who died in the war. In the memorial, there is also a museum of historical artifacts, which displays many materials of the soldiers, including uniforms, helmets, equipment, letters, flags, pictures, and personal items, as well as artworks created by senior soldiers to express the hardships of war.
In 1978, the SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE ACT 1978 was enacted in Victoria to provide that the Trustees of the Shrine of Remembrance (the Trustees are a body corporate and function as a Board) are responsible for the care, management, maintenance and protection of the Shrine and its reserves on behalf of the people of Victoria. The functions of the Trustees are defined in the Shrine of Remembrance’s 2019–24 STRATEGIC PLAN, which includes：
Developing, promoting, managing and conducting ceremonial events such as wreath-laying to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Victorians and Australians in the war.
Developing, promoting and managing public programs for the purpose of informing, educating public programs for promotional, and educational purposes such as exhibitions, lectures, publications, school learning and outreach programs.
In Victoria, the Shrine of Remembrance invites students on a free tour to help them gain insight into the experiences of Australian soldiers in the war and the symbolism of the Shrine of Remembrance. Children often sincerely appreciate the Shrine and even write letters to express their feelings and gratitude to the sacrificed soldiers. In Melbourne, the Melbourne Legacy holds an annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate Anzac Day and the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who served our country. Students can sign up for ceremonial activities.
In conclusion, I felt amazed when I visited the Shrine of Remembrance. Shrine of Remembrance provides a place for Australians to remember the warriors and reflect on life. Shrine of Remembrance is not only significant in commemorating history, but also has an important impact on cherishing peace.
