War Memorials in Australia
Merchant Navy Memorial
Place:
Parkes, Australian Capital Territory, 2600
District:
Southern Tablelands
(ACT)
Orientation: Suburb of Canberra
Location: Wendouree Drive, King's Park, near Carillon
Position: 35 17 81 S 149 08 63 E
Ref: 00015
__________________________
Plaque on low wall at north end
This memorial was unveiled by
His Excellency
The Honourable Bill Hayden AC
Governor-General of Australia
on
7th October 1990
The funds to build this National Memorial
were provided by the Merchant Navy
War Memorial Fund Limited, from
Donations made by the people of Australia
On central black granite panel
Insignia of Australian Merchant Navy
IN HONOUR OF THOSE OF THE
AUSTRALIAN MERCHANT NAVY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR
COUNTRY AND HAVE NO GRAVE
BUT THE SEA. THEY WILL BE
REMEMBERED FOR EVER MORE.
1914-18 1939-45
Plaque at base of and in front of memorial
THE MERCHANT NAVY MEMORIAL DESIGN
SYMBOLISES THE MERCHANT SERVICE AND THE SEA
| CENTRAL GRANITE PANEL |
SYMBOLISES REMEMBRANCE |
| FLANKING CONCRETE PANELS |
REPRESENTS THE BOWS OF SHIPS: THE WAVE TOP OF EACH PANEL REPRESENTS THE SEA |
| PLAN OF THE MEMORIAL |
DEPICTS THE GLOBE SPINNING ON A NORTH-SOUTH AXIS |
| PAVING PATTERN OF THE DIAS |
REPRESENTS THE CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS USED BY MERCHANT SHIPPING DURING WORLD WAR I. THE RED CROSSES REPRESENT AUSTRALIA'S HOSPITAL SHIPS WHICH WERE MANNED BY MERCHANT SERVICE CREWS |
| CONCRETE DRUMS |
THE CONCRETE DRUMS AT EITHER END OF THE NORTH-SOUTH AXIS REPRESENT COMPASS CARDS WHICH SYMBOLISE NAVIGATION |
| FLAGPOLE |
THE FLAGPOLE IS A NAUTICAL STYLE FLAGPOLE WITH YARDARM & GAFF |
Three plaques on low wall at south end
First plaque
| Grateful acknowledgement is extended to: |
|
| The Commonwealth Government |
|
| The Company of Master Mariners of Australia Ltd |
|
| The National Capital Planning Authority |
|
| Australian Construction Services |
|
| The following companies, members of The Australian National Maritime Association Adelaide Brighton Cement Ltd A N L Limited Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited |
Second plaque
| Ampol Petroleum (Queensland) Pty Limited | |
| Associated Steamships Pty Ltd | |
| Australian L N G Ship Operating Co Pty Ltd | |
| B P Australia Limited | |
| Brambles Industries Limited | |
| Caltex Tanker Company (Australia) Pty Limited | |
| Cementco Shipping Pty Ltd | |
| C S R Limited | |
| Howard Smith Industries Proprietary Limited | |
| McIlwraith McEacharn Operations Limited | |
| Mobil Oil Australia Limited | |
| Queensland Alumina Limited | |
| The Adelaide Steamship Company Limited |
Third plaque
| B H P Transport Limited | |
| The Shell Company of Australia Limited | |
| The Transport Commission, Tasmania | |
| T N T Shipping and Development Limited | |
| W A Coastal Shipping Commission | |
| . | |
| and | |
| . | |
| Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Pty Ltd - Architects | |
| Kell & Rigby (Builders) Pty Ltd | |
| For their support in the construction of this memorial |
Information current to February 2000