Australian design for National War Memorial Park welcomed
Hon Christopher Finlayson
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
9 February 2013
Media Statement
Australian Memorial design for
National War Memorial Park welcomed
The
government has welcomed today’s announcement by Australian
Prime Minister Julia Gillard of the design for the
Australian Memorial which will be located in the National
War Memorial Park in Wellington.
“It is a
powerful and affecting design which will be a fitting
tribute to the relationship between Australia and New
Zealand and our shared military history,” Arts, Culture
and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson
said.
The Memorial, designed by Australian
architectural firm Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, features 15
columns made from rugged red sandstone, symbolic of
Australia's 'Red Centre', surrounded by eucalypt trees,
representing the Australian landscape.
It will be
situated within the National War Memorial Park, which is
currently under construction, beginning with roadworks in
Wellington’s Buckle Street..
“The National War
Memorial Park will create a fittingly sacred pace around our
National War Memorial, where people can commemorate the
sacrifices made by our service people and those from other
countries during war,” Mr Finlayson said.
“It
is significant that the first new memorial in the park will
be Australia’s, a nation with which we share such an
extensive military heritage,” he said. “It is especially
fitting since the park is intended to be opened in time for
the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in April 2015, on
ANZAC Day.”
The Australian Memorial is a reciprocal
gesture to the New Zealand Memorial built on ANZAC Parade in
Canberra. It will be funded by the Australian Government,
which announced a project budget of AUD$5 million.
Images of the Memorial (architect's impressions)
as well as a copy of the architect’s design statement are
available for download on the Australian Department of
Veterans' Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au/media
For information regarding the New Zealand Memorial
Park, please visit: http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-war-memorial/national-war-memorial-park
ENDS