The Shrine will mark its 90th anniversary on Remembrance Day 2024. This milestone occasion will be celebrated through a comprehensive program of events and activations commencing with the 11 days of Remembrance from 1–11 November and continuing over the peak summer months.
The public launch of the Shrine 2025–45 Master Plan will occur in this period with visitors and the community invited to comment. This will inform finalisation of the plan before it becomes effective from 1 July 2025.
Consistent with general economic pressure across the community, the increased cost of maintaining the Shrine and funding ceremonial and public programming will present significant challenges in the coming year.
The growing return of international visitors is expected to support increased visitation and related revenue from targeted retail and Shrine Tour sales. The Shrine will also activate the undercroft’s potential to host venue hire events as a new income stream.
The recently approved 2025–30 Strategic Plan builds upon the previous five-year plan which was successfully implemented to elevate the standing of commemoration in the hearts and minds of Victorians. The new plan broadens this remit to pursue aspirational positioning of the Shrine among the world’s leading memorials and advancing its standing as a major cultural icon of Melbourne.
In preparing the 2024–25 Business Plan and budget, management has reviewed the Shrine’s responsibilities — established by the Act and in the Minister’s Statement of Government Priorities — and the objectives of the Shrine’s 2025–30 Strategic Plan.
The Business Plan responds to these inputs in a prudent manner, while recognising some significant costs associated with required changes in essential maintenance, asset replacement and enhanced IT management to support increased reliance on digital program platforms, hybrid working models and increasing cyber-security risks.
Employee wellbeing has been a significant focus in the prior year and will remain a priority as we build a positive culture to the benefit of all in the service of the Shrine’s purpose.
A non-material operating deficit is budgeted and, barring unforeseen events, the Victorian State Budget total engagement target of 750,000 will be achieved.
Significant projects planned in the year including:
- completion of security infrastructure to mitigate Hostile Vehicle Attack.
- conclusion of stakeholder engagement and finalisation of the 2025–45 Shrine Master Plan.
Significant services will include:
- weekly Last Post Services each Sunday
- Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18 August 2024
- Remembrance Day, 11 November 2024
- Melbourne Legacy's 92nd Annual ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony for Students, April 2025
- Anzac Day, 25 April 2025
- Annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service, 31 May 2025
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