A visit of the Shrine of Remembrance

Impossible to miss its massive silhouette, perfectly aligned with St Kilda Road. Perched on a hill next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance has been a major attraction of Melbourne since its opening on 11 November 1934. Originally dedicated to the victims of World War I, it now pays tribute to all Australians who have served in any war. It also houses an interesting museum and its balcony offers a magnificent 360° view of the city! Follow me for a tour of the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial like no other.

A memorial like no other

Summary

A bit of architecture
Galleries of Remembrance and the Crypt
360° view from the balcony!
Know before you go

A bit of architecture

Is the Shrine of Remembrance beautiful? It will depend on your point of view of course, but in my opinion, not really. It is an imposing and solemn building, which perfectly fulfills its role as a war memorial. But like many other places of this type, I find its architecture too raw and too massive for it to be truly elegant. But that doesn’t make it a less interesting building!

Construction of the Shrine of Remembrance began on 11 November 1927 (Remembrance Day), and was completed exactly 7 years later, on 11 November 1934. At the time it was only intended to pay tribute to the men and women of Victoria who served during World War I. Its architects Philip Hudson and James Wardrop were actually both veterans of this conflict. But that was just a few years before the beginning of World War II... Today, the Shrine of Remembrance is a memorial to all Australians who served in any conflict, anywhere on the planet.

Although I'm a little critical of its architecture, it still has some fascinating aspects. First of all, I quite like the vast forecourt which slopes gently towards the building. On the right, a basin houses the Perpetual Flame, continuously burning since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lit it in 1954. The interior is rather austere, but I find the Sanctuary and its well of light in the middle very impressive. There’s a marble plaque on the floor with the inscription “Greater love hath no man” engraved on it. Thanks to a small opening in the ceiling, on November 11 of each year at 11am, a ray of sunlight illuminates the word “love”. Finally, a little anecdote: the Shrine of Remembrance was built with the aim that no shadow would ever darken its facade. This was the case until 2020 and the construction of the Australia 108 tower, the tallest in Melbourne. The size of the shadow it would cast was underestimated, and it partly covers the building on a few winter afternoons...

Galleries of Remembrance and the Crypt

The first level of the Shrine, called the Galleries of Remembrance, hosts a museum that I find rather interesting. Through numerous objects, images, and testimonies, it retraces the journey of Australian men and women during the various conflicts in which the country was engaged in its history. It also hosts temporary exhibitions. I was particularly fascinated by the one entitled “Recovering the Past”, which unfortunately ended in September 2024. Thanks to remarkable photo montages, the British artist Ian Alderman showed World War I soldiers side by side with men from the Belgian armed forces bomb-disposal team.

The Crypt is located in the middle of this level. It’s a large dark room dedicated to the soldiers who fought during World War I.

360° view from the balcony!

The upper floor is the already mentioned Sanctuary. Continuing to climb, you finally reach the balcony, an outdoor terrace going all the way around the building. Stunning 360° view of Melbourne, of the forecourt below, and of the Royal Botanic Gardens!

Know before you go

Given the imposing place it takes in the Melbournian landscape, it's hard to miss the Shrine of Remembrance! But if you need help finding it, head to Kings Domain along St Kilda Road, between Southbank and the Royal Botanic Gardens. All St Kilda Road trams stop at the foot of the building, where the future Anzac Station which will open in 2025 is also located.

Access to the Shrine of Remembrance is completely free, whether for the museum or for the balcony. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm. There are daily 45-minute guided tours. You can find a map of the building here. Finally, commemoration ceremonies are organised every year on Anzac Day (25 April) and on Remembrance Day (11 November).

Find all the practical information in detail on the Shrine of Remembrance website!

Do you like the architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance? Send me a message to let me know!