Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00437:body:0:p47
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00437
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 129489–132373

The carved stone figures depict various Australian fauna and Australian Indigenous people and were designed to

   provide the drainage for the balconies around the courtyard. On the western side of the courtyard are an Indigenous female, kangaroo, wombat, bush turkey, frog, Tasmanian devil, cockatoo, mopoke, carpet snake, kookaburra, bearded dragon, dingo and a gurnet. The eastern side features an Indigenous male, emu, koala, platypus, tawny frogmouth, cuscus, swan, frilled-neck lizard, cassowary, thorny (mountain) devil, eagle, opossum and a goanna.

   Due to the nature and composition of the Wondabyne sandstone, the carved figures suffered extensive deterioration due to weathering and were replaced during major conservation works to the Commemorative Area between 2012 and 2017. The original decaying stonework was removed and copies were carved for reinstatement.

        Hall of Memory

   The Hall of Memory, with its stepped cubic forms and copper dome, is the central architectural and landmark element of the place. As the major vertical element in the architectural composition, it closes the view from the courtyard and is a prominent terminating feature of the land axis. The mosaics in the hall are believed to be the largest in Australia.3 The style is essentially Art Deco, but with classical and Byzantine allusions and references. The human figures depicted in the mosaics represent qualities of strength and endurance. The theme of the dome decoration is the ascent of the spirits of the fallen. The cornice is crowned with a classical wreath and a flight of black swans symbolises the air. The Hall of Memory was Napier Waller's largest public work and remains his most accessible.

   Since 1993, when the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier was installed (refer to Figure 3.14), the Hall has also contained the sculpture known as the four pillars, designed by Janet Laurence, which replaced Ewer's Australian Serviceman, now located in the Sculpture Garden. The pillars recall the four Platonic elements of earth, fire, air and water. The earth pillar is made of marble, the fire pillar of metal, the water pillar of glass and the polished wooden pillar represents the air. The four 11-metre-tall freestanding pillars are placed in the niche behind the Tomb, each symmetrical with the mosaic-clad mullions of the three major stained glass windows (refer to Figure 3.15). The purity and simplicity of their form contrasts with and confirms the rich detail of the glass and mosaic.

  Figure 3.13 Interior view of the mosaic dome.

  Figure 3.14 Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.

  Figure 3.15 Stained glass window.

  Figure 3.16 The glass walkway from the main Memorial building to ANZAC Hall.

 Figure 3.17 The First World War areas.

 Figure 3.18 The Second World War areas.

 Figure 3.19 The double height space of ANZAC Hall.