Shrine of Remembrance Information

Shrine of Remembrance Information

Melbourne's most recognisable landmark, the Shrine of Remembrance, was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in remembrance of those 114,000 men and women of Victoria who served and those who died in the Great War of 1914-1918. 89,100 of them served overseas and 19,000 did not return. The people of Victoria felt that their debt to these volunteers, who had defenced them at such great costs to themselves and their families, should be recognised by a worthy permanent monument of remembrance. A special feature of the Shrine is the Ray of Light. Thanks to combined skills of an astronomer, a mathematician and a surveyor the Ray of Light falls on the word LOVE on sacred the Stone of Remembrance at 11am on the 11th of November and will continue to do so for 5,000 years at least. The time and date mark the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the Great War by what was called the Armistice. Simulated Ray of Light services of remembrance are held for visitors every half hour. After World War II a Memorial Forecourt in the shape of a cross of sacrifice was added and this included three flagpoles, the Eternal Flame and the Cenotaph. A water garden, known as Remembrance Garden, on the western slope of the Shrine grounds commemorates post 1945 armed conflicts such as Malaya, Borneo, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Balkans, Cambodia, Somalia and East Timor. Today, the Shrine of Remembrance draws thousands of visitors each year - to remember, to contemplate, or to simply visit as tourists. There is a Visitor Centre and Education Centre providing visitors of all ages with a comprehensive experience. Trustees are very active in encouraging schools to visit the Shrine so that the next generation of Australians learn something of the traditions of the armed services and the significance of remembrance. Over 90 voluntary guides give up their time to conduct guided tours of the Shrine on a daily basis. Please see more information for upcoming lectures.