Australian-Hellenic Memorial (Canberra)

War Memorials in Australia

Place: Reid, Australian Capital Territory, 2612
District: Southern Tablelands (ACT)
Orientation: Suburb of Canberra
Location: Anzac Parade, west side
Position: 35 16 96 S 149 08 76 E
Ref: 00002

__________________________

The memorial is constructed of off form finished concrete, ceramic glazed tiles, broken slate, iron, marble and copper alloy. It takes the shape of an amphitheatre in which a Doric column symbolises the birth of civilisation. The column is embossed with the cross of the Greek orthodox Church. It represents a hero's grave and it contrasts with the harshness of the bomb-damaged steel fragment representing the destructive forces of war. The memorial stands on a mosaic pavement incorporating a graphic interpretation of the Greek mainland and outlying islands.

The only Anzac Corps in World War II was formed in Greece. On 6 April 1941 Germany invaded southern Yugoslavia and Greece and the 6th Division joined an Allied force resisting the advance. This memorial commemorates all those who died in the Greek campaign.

Plaque on west wall of path
THE AUSTRALIAN-HELLENIC MEMORIAL

THIS MEMORIAL WAS DEDICATED BY THE HON. R.J.L. HAWKE AC MP
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
AND
MR YANIS HARALAMBOPOULOS
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE
ON
21 MAY 1988
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE FALLEN

THE AUSTRALIAN-HELLENIC MEMORIAL DEPICTS THE HARSH BUT BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE OF
GREECE ACROSS WHICH SOLDIERS FOUGHT AND DIED. IT IS A LANDSCAPE THAT SINCE THE BEGINNING,
HAS CONTRASTED WITH MAN'S ARTEFACTS OF CIVILISATION, CULTIVATION
AND WAR. MAN HAS DESTROYED AND SO HAS TIME. BUT THE ANTIQUITIES IN THIS LANDSCAPE
SYMBOLISE MAN'S SPIRIT AS WELL AS HIS STRUGGLES WITH NATURE AND HIS OWN LAND.
THE MOST NOBLE MONUMENT TO MAN'S SPIRIT IS THE DORIC COLUMN. THE MOST FUTILE IS
THE RUSTING, SHELL-TORN FRAGMENT OF MODERN CONFLICT. THESE PIECES EMERGE FROM
THE GROUND, IMPLYING VAST BURIED RELICS OF BOTH CIVILISATION AND CONFLICT. THIS
GROUND IS THE MOST PLACID OF PLACES, AN AMPHITHEATRE OF SEATS WHERE AN AUDIENCE
CONTEMPLATES THIS GREEK TRAGEDY. LIKE AN ANCIENT GLADE, THE ARC OF SEATS
RESIDES IN AN OLIVE GROVE AND THE FORMAL CYPRESSES STAND EVIDENCE OF A SACRED
PLACE. THE COLUMN IS OVERSIZED AND CUT BY CLEAR IMAGINATION, NOT THE WEAR OF TIME.
THE ROCKS, AS SHARP AS FLINT, ARE ALSO SEEN AS MOUNTAINS. THE MOSAIC PAVEMENT
REPRESENTS THE PENINSULA AND ARCHIPELAGO OF GREECE SURROUNDED BY THE SEAS.

CONSTRUCTED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN-HELLENIC MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY: NATIONAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
ARCHITECT: ANCHER MORTLOCK WOOLLEY
MOSAIC ARTIST: MARY HALL
CONTRACTOR: JOHN PFEIFFER CONSTRUCTIONS

Plaque on east wall of path
THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES ALL THOSE WHO DIED IN THE GREEK
CAMPAIGN OF WORLD WAR II PARTICULARLY DURING THE BATTLE FOR CRETE,
THOSE WHO DIED AT SEA WHILE SERVING WITH THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN
NAVY AND THE MERCHANT MARINE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, MEMBERS
OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, WOMEN OF THE NURSING SERVICES,
SPECIAL COVERT FORCES, GREEK CIVILIANS WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES
IN HELPING AUSTRALIAN AND OTHER ALLIED SOLDIERS TO SAFETY,
TOGETHER WITH THOSE WHO DIED ON GREEK SOIL DURING WORD WAR I.

GREEK TRANSLATION OF ABOVE

Plaque at ground level beside approach path, southern side
GREEK TRANSLATION OF BELOW

PLANTED ON SUNDAY 28TH APRIL 1991 BY
THE HONOURABLE TZANIS TZANNETAKIS
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE AND
THE HONOURABLE PAUL KEATING
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE BATTLES OF MAINLAND GREECE AND CRETE.

Plaque on east side of memorial
AUSTRALIAN-HELLENIC MEMORIAL
Map of the world

On 6 April 1941 the 6th Australian Division joined an Allied force resisting German
advancement in mainland Greece. The troops, largely from Australia and New Zealand,
fought with skill and determination but were vastly outnumbered on the ground. Germany
also enjoyed total domination in the air. the campaign was, from start to finish, a fighting
withdrawal.

Many evacuated Australians were taken to Crete where, with British, New Zealand and
Greek troops, they fought an ill-fated campaign against highly trained German troops.
More than 5000 Australians were taken prisoner of war in both campaigns. The Australian
Hellenic Memorial commemorates those who died in these campaigns.

Designed by the architectural form, Ancher, Mortlock and Woolley Pty Ltd, the marble
memorial recalls the shape of an amphitheatre amidst an olive grove. The doric column
symbolises the birth of civilisation. This column is also embossed with the cross of the
Greek Orthodox Church, representing a soldier's grave. The column stands on a mosaic
pavement, designed by Mary Hall, which represents the rugged coastline and terrain of
the battlefields. The damaged steel fragment reflects the futility and destruction of war.

Coat of arms of Commonwealth of Australia

Information current to April 2001

Sources: The Memorials of Anzac Parade, pamphlet produced by the National Capital Authority, Canberra, undated

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