Australian-American Memorial

The Australian-American Memorial is in Canberra, the national capital of Australia, and commemorates the role of the United States in World War II.

Dedication

In grateful remembrance
of the vital help given by the
United States of America during
the war in the Pacific 1941-1945.
Unveiled by
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
February 16th 1954

Design and Construction

After an appeal for finances by then Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Robert Menzies, the Australian people subscribed more than the eventual cost of 100,000 pounds, then a vast sum of money for such a public memorial, indicating the gratitude of the nation. Additional memorials were constructed in Brisbane and Adelaide using the surplus funds.

Work commenced in December 1952 and took just over a year. Then Vice President of the United States of America, Richard Nixon, visited the site in the early stages of construction.

The memorial is a hollow, octagonal, tapered column with a steel framework sheeted with aluminium panels that were sandblasted to give the appearance of stone. Two murals feature at the base, one relating the story of American combat in the Pacific and the other a profile map of the United States in copper. The column is surrounded by a water-filled moat about 3m wide. Under the dedication is a bronze wreath where floral wreaths are often laid on official commemorations. The column is topped with a bronze sphere surmounted by a stylised figure of the American Eagle by the distinguished sculptor, Paul Beadle.

The height is 258 feet (78m approx): The eagle and sphere are together around 11m high.

ite

The memorial was built at Russell Hill on the extended line of Kings Avenue, near one of the three nodes of the Parliamentary Triangle.

Russell Offices has since been developed around the memorial, as the headquarters of the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence, with the immediate surrounds called Blamey Square after Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey.

External links

* [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2004/Feb/160204a.cfm Department of Defence] web site for the memorial, with construction pictures
* [http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/coralsea/memorial.html US Embassy] web site for the memorial