Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance will commemorate its 90th anniversary on 11 November. Established as a sacred space for mourning Victorians who lost their lives in the First World War, the Shrine has evolved into a national memorial honouring all Australians who have served and sacrificed in wars since Australia’s Federation in 1901.
Of the 114,000 Victorians who enlisted during the First World War, 89,000 served overseas, and 19,000 made the ultimate sacrifice, with many buried far from home.
The Shrine offers families a place to remember their loved ones and symbolises the courage of those who remained on the home front, supporting the nation’s defense efforts.
The Shrine’s design was chosen through a competition among Australian artists and architects, receiving 83 submissions. The winning design, created by returned soldiers Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop, draws inspiration from one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, dedicated to King Mausolus of Caria in Southwest Asia Minor.
Despite the severe unemployment and financial struggles of the late 1920s and 1930s, the community’s deep gratitude enabled the rapid funding of the Shrine, with the necessary amount raised within six months of launching the appeal in 1928.
The Shrine was officially opened by Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and son of King George V, on November 11, 1934, in front of an audience of 300,000 people.
Since then, this iconic landmark has stood as a testament to honour, sacrifice, and remembrance, paying tribute to all who have served our nation.
*Steve Kyritsis is a School Guide Volunteer at the Shrine of Remembrance.
