An interpretive wall made from local black granite and an open blade fence along the Government House Kintore Avenue boundary are key features of the Anzac Centenary Memorial Garden Walk design released today.
Marking Remembrance Day, Premier Jay Weatherill revealed the design alongside Governor Hieu Van Le AO, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Martin Hamilton-Smith, Lord Mayor Martin Haese and Chairman of the Veterans Advisory Council Sir Eric Neal AC CVO.
The Memorial Walk is one of the biggest projects to be funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Anzac Public Fund and construction will start within a week, undertaken by BMD Constructions, following a competitive tender process. The project is expected to be completed by Anzac Day 2016.
The Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Stuart Robert highlighted the important role memorial projects play in sharing the stories of Australia at war.
“A key aim of the Anzac Centenary national program is to improve understanding and awareness of Australia’s war time history,” Mr Robert said.
“The Anzac Centenary Memorial Garden Walk is a wonderful example of governments and the community leading this education process for future generations.”
Premier Jay Weatherill said the Memorial Walk was designed by Grieve Gillett Dimitty Andersen architects following extensive consultation with the veteran community and other key stakeholders.
“It is designed around three pillars of symbolism; remembrance, service and loyalty,” Mr Weatherill said.
“The Memorial Walk’s interpretive wall made of Adelaide black granite will depict Australian society through a century of conflict.
“It will pay tribute to the more than 102,000 Australian servicemen and women lost in conflict since Federation, all major conflicts from World War I to Afghanistan and Iraq, operational theatres.
“It will also document all major conflicts from World War I to Afghanistan and Iraq, operational theatres, peacekeeping, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the home front, Cheer Up Society, animals, material and equipment.”
Mr Hamilton-Smith said place names of theatres of war involving Australian servicemen and women, sourced from the Australian War Memorial, will also be embedded in the Memorial Walk pavement.
“One of my favourite aspects of the design involves the boundary of Government House being brought in 10 metres and replaced with a new open blade fence,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“This involves the first change to the boundaries of Government House since 1927, when the site for the South Australian National War Memorial was enshrined in legislation. The brick wall along Kintore Avenue was built in 1937.
“Another key aspect of the design will be for the Dardanelles Memorial to be relocated from South Terrace to the northern end of the Memorial Walk to provide a place of prominence for Australia’s earliest memorial to the Gallipoli campaign.
“The Memorial Walk captures Australian society, at home and abroad, through a century of conflict.”
The Memorial Walk is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government, which contributed $5 million from the Anzac Public Fund, the State Government funding $3 million while the Adelaide City Council will put $2 million towards the project, which will include the resurfacing of Kintore Avenue.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said this proposal has captured the hearts of South Australian veterans, and it is fitting that the design is confirmed today as we commemorate Remembrance Day.
“As South Australians, we have much to be proud of and grateful for when it comes to our brothers and sisters who have served the interests of our country in the armed forces,” he said,
“Through physical infrastructure, their sacrifice and service is retained in our collective memory in perpetuity.
“This project will not only enhance the amenity of the North Terrace area, but establish a refreshed, unified memorial precinct to be a feature of the city centre.
“The Anzac Centenary Memorial Garden Walk will be a place of peaceful reflection, recognition and education.
“People will be able to walk from the State’s principal site of remembrance, the South Australian National War Memorial on North Terrace, to Torrens Parade Ground and the Pathway of Honour.”