Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p310
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 944079–946854

Australia's natural or cultural history

Anzac Parade has outstanding heritage value because of its role in the development and national life of Canberra as Australia's national capital.

Anzac Parade is a conspicuous and major part of the Land Axis, and its concept is strongly associated with the Griffins' vision and plan for Canberra, as a major structural planning element around which the city was conceived and developed.

The realisation of Anzac Parade and other elements of the city has to some extent reflected the Griffins' design but there have also been departures from it, and subsequent designs  The realised design is more than just the surviving elements of the Griffins' design, and it is rather the work of many hands and the creation of several layers of urban planning and design over 100 years.  The work of the NCDC in the 1960s has dramatically re-conceptualised Anzac Parade in response to the changed character of the northern Land Axis through the placement of the Australian War Memorial at the base of the terminal point – Mount Ainslie.  The overall result is a layering of designs which have built upon and consciously departed from the Griffins' original design intent.  In historical terms, this complex, evolving design is an important part of the story of the national capital, the Land Axis and Anzac Parade in particular.

Anzac Parade is part of an area, the Parliament House Vista, which is unique within Australia as an ongoing realisation of the establishment of a national place in an attempt to give a strong identity to the core of the national capital.

Anzac Parade is also of outstanding heritage value given its role in national commemorative activities related to war since 1965, contributing to the development of Australian cultural life and national identity.  Anzac Day is a particular focus of commemoration.  The Australian War Memorial from 1941 is an important precursor to the development and later role of the Parade.

The Australian War Memorial and, to a lesser extent, the other memorials in the Parade have and continue to play a very important role in fostering aspects of national identity.  The various wars in which Australia has participated have had a major impact on its people and their history.  While there are many other memorials in Australia which commemorate wars and those who died, only the Australian War Memorial serves as a national shrine for all Australians, and the Memorial and Anzac Parade continue to serve as a focus for commemoration.

Collectively, the individual memorials are also the ongoing focus of substantial national commemorative activities.

The commemoration of war has been a major theme in Australia's national history, and Anzac Parade, while not an early expression of