The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is inside the memorial and is the Shrine’s most important space. Each year, thousands attend commemorative ceremonies to remember the sacrifices of Australian service men and women.
The Stone of Remembrance is in the centre of the Sanctuary. It is symbolic of a gravestone for those Victorian servicemen and women buried overseas and in unmarked graves.
The Ray of Light
Fighting in the First World War ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Each year on this day, Remembrance Day, a natural ray of sunlight enters the Sanctuary to shine on the Stone of Remembrance. At 11am (Eastern Standard Time) it illuminates the word LOVE.
This is demonstrated hourly throughout the day from 10:30am.
The Books of Remembrance
Surrounding the Sanctuary is the Ambulatory, which contains 42 bronze caskets. The caskets house the 40 Books of Remembrance (38 Australian Imperial Force, one Royal Australian Navy and one book including Victorians who served in other than Australian Forces); the Monarch’s Book of Remembrance and a VIP book.
Each Book of Remembrance has a fine illuminated page and calligraphic script and in total 89,100 names are recorded. Each person recorded served overseas or died prior to embarkation in the First World War and was either born or enlisted in Victoria.
How to access
Entry to the Sanctuary is via the internal stairs from the Galleries. A lift is also available.
Books of Remembrance
The Ambulatory contains 42 bronze caskets. The caskets house the 40 Books of Remembrance the Monarch’s Book of Remembrance and a VIP book.
The Galleries of Remembrance
The Galleries present the stories of Australians in wartime for more than 100 years.
Visitors follow this experience presented in more than 800 artworks and historical objects, interactive multimedia, rare images and films.
The Galleries are a cathedral-like space located inside the monument, below the Sanctuary. We recommend at least 1.5 hours to explore them fully.
How to access
- via the stairs or lift from the Sanctuary
- entry through the Visitor Centre.
Highlights include:
Gallery of medals
The service and sacrifice of 400,000 Victorian men and women is symbolised by 22 replica medals, repeated to make over 4,000 medals in the 40 metre long wall.
Boer War memorial window
Originally installed in St Paul’s Church in Euroa in 1903, this unique stained glass window commemorates Private John Charlton, of Castle Creek, Victoria, for his service and sacrifice in the Boer War
The Devanha lifeboat
The HMT Devanha transported men of the 12th Battalion, the 3rd Field Ambulance and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters ashore on 25 April.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) was created by Queen Victoria in 1856 to be awarded to all ranks for bravery in the face of the enemy.
Battle of Britain Lace
The Battle of Britain Laces the features the insignias of the various British Commonwealth Air Forces, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Changi Flag
This flag became a symbol of stoic determination and was employed in many ceremonies, particularly burials.
Objects recovered from Hiroshima
At 8:15am on 6 August 1945, Hiroshima became the first city to be devastated by an atomic bomb, dropped by the USAF B-29 bomber ‘Enola Gay’.
Objects from David Bergman's work at the World Trade Centre
Captain Bergman was then seconded to the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) on extra duties to assist the recovery and clear rubble and debris.
The Crypt
The Crypt lies directly beneath the Stone of Remembrance. It commemorates the fighting units of the First World War. Around the walls of the Crypt, the unit colour patches and the names of ships lost in war are preserved in bronze.
Highlights include:
Father and Son
In the centre of the Crypt stands the Father and son sculpture created to honour the courage and sacrifice of 2 generations of Victorians who served and died in the First and Second World Wars.
Crypt colours and guidons
In 1940 the Shrine Trustees proposed that the Crypt would be an appropriate place in which to lay up the Colours of disbanded Victorian regiments.
The Crypt casket
In the Crypt sits a bronze casket atop a stone pedestal. This casket holds the original donation receipts from the fundraising campaign held to help build the Shrine of Remembrance.
The Balcony
The Balcony provides unique perspectives of the Shrine and the more than 250 memorial trees and features of the 13-hectare Shrine Reserve. Unmatched panoramic views of Melbourne highlight the Shrine’s prominent position and significance to all Victorians.
How to access
Access is via stairs only from the Sanctuary.
The Second World War Memorial Forecourt
The Second World War Memorial Forecourt was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 and is to the north of the Shrine monument. It commemorates the service and sacrifice of Victorians in the Second World War.
It was designed by the Czechoslovakian modernist architect Ernest Edward Milston in 1949. His plan was the winning design in a competition launched by the Shrine Trustees. The challenge was to add to the memorial but not to detract from the original monument which was built to honour those who served in the First World War. The Forecourt is in the shape of a non-denominational cross, and replaced a reflection pool that was originally at the northern entrance of the Shrine.
Highlights include:
The Flagpoles
On most days you will see the Australian national flag flying here. The Victorian state flag will usually fly in the middle. The right-hand flagpole rotates between the flags of the services.
The Eternal Flame
On 28 February 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stood on a podium in front of a crowd of 250,000 people and pressed a button to light the Eternal Flame. It has burnt ever since.
The Cenotaph
The cenotaph is a prominent structure in the Second World War Forecourt. The sculpture that sits atop by George Allen shows men in uniforms of the 3 Australian services: Navy, Army and Airforce.
Gardens and memorials
The Shrine monument is surrounded by 13 hectares of gardens known as the Shrine Reserve. The Reserve encompasses gardens, sculptures, water features and memorials and more than 250 commemorative plaques and memorial trees.
Download the plaque map:
Highlights include:
Cobbers
The Cobbers sculpture, created by Peter Corlett as a memorial to Australian service and sacrifice at the Battle of Fromelles, 19 July 1916, stands in the Shrine Reserve.
The Gallipoli Memorial Garden
The Gallipoli Memorial Garden leads into the Shrine of Remembrance from Birdwood Avenue. It is inspired by the action on the Gallipoli peninsula by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
The Legacy Garden of Appreciation
This garden symbolises the loss felt by families when their loved ones did not return home.
Man with the donkey
The man with the donkey by sculptor Wallace Anderson, an iconic image of a stretcher-bearer with his donkey carrying a wounded comrade, epitomises the courage and compassion of the Australian soldier.
The Garden of Remembrance and Post-1945 Memorial
The Garden of Remembrance memorial opened in 1985. It is a memorial to all who served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions since the Second World War.
Ex-Servicewomen’s Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden was opened on 20 November 2010 after many years of campaigning for recognition and respect by ex-servicewomen.
The Shrine Collection
The Shrine of Remembrance Collection was formally established in 2013, although a number of collection items had come into its care prior. The collection is comprised of commemorative objects, documents, diaries and books, photographs, personal items, souvenirs, ephemera, flags and uniforms, military and communications equipment and works of art.
If you would like to contribute to the Shrine Collection, read more about the donation process.
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