This war memorial has plaques with descriptions of every war or battle Australia has been involved in, as well as peacekeeping efforts. The plaques are attached to a modern S-shaped sculpture. The memorial site also contains pictures all 98 Victoria Cross recipients. A granite 'Lest We Forget' wall includes the badges of the services. Finally, it has a black granite wall dedicated to the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, Captain Reginald Saunders MBE wall with a famous quote.
Valued at over $430,000, the new war memorial was designed by Bryan Bathgate of Curtain Bathgate & Somers Architects and the commissioned sculpture is by Di Emme Creative Solutions.
The sculptural essence of the new memorial is to symbolize the solidarity, unison, courage and spirit of the Australian mateship at war.
The sailor, soldier and airman/woman are represented in a palette of materials:
- Stainless steel blades 300mm width representing the military serviceman /woman of the ADF triservices;
- Concrete curved blocks 150mm width x 300 high representing battlement;
- 20mm x300mm glass inserts to the concrete block between the stainless steel blades representing the spirit and eternal flame presence when lit;
- All collectively arranged from 800mm high to 2400mm and bolted together to create the structural integrity of the sculpture that provides the foundation of the memorial representing strength and unison in numbers.
- The use of aged bronze represents the triservices in the form of the service badges of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force;
- Three bronze cladded pillars with a montage of iconic images from each Australian Defence Force service.
- War diary excerpts from all wars and conflicts that Australia has been engaged in are located through the memorial sculpture in the form of bronze plaques which provide a narrative and personal experience of the memorial.
Memorial sculpture
The large S-shaped memorial sculpture is made of marine grade stainless steel, glass and stone with four bronze pillars in the middle with the words “Endurance”, “Mateship”, “Courage” and “Sacrifice” inscribed.
Attached to the sculpture are 20 descriptive plaques of each war Australia has been in and one plaque dedicated to peacekeeping.
Reginald ‘Reg’ Saunders wall
The Capt. Reginald Saunders MBE wall recognises Australia’s first Aboriginal commissioned officer. It is emblazoned with the following quote:
On Anzac eve we dug in among friends. At last I felt like an Anzac, and imagine there were 600 others like me.
This quote is in bronze lettering across a large black granite wall with a cast bronze plaque that reads “Capt. Reginald Walter Saunders MBE – the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, said on 24 April 1951 at the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War.” This wall overlooks Bondi Beach.
Victoria Cross wall
The Victoria Cross recipients wall is made of black granite, and bears laser images, names, rank, and the theatre of war for all 98 Australian VC Award recipients.
“Lest We Forget” wall
The words “Lest We Forget” are emblazoned on a black granite wall in aged bronze lettering, alongside aged cast bronze badges of the Royal Australian Navy, Army and Royal Australian Air Force.
The memorial is located adjacent to North Bondi RSL Club.