Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p383
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 1187016–1189867

has special associations with veterans and their families including the Returned & Services League of Australia.  These special associations are reinforced on ANZAC Day and at ceremonies specific to particular memorials on Anzac Parade.

 The AWM in its setting was a direct consequence of the First World War, one of the seminal events in Australian history.  Official war correspondent, Charles Bean, believed that the war would have a strong influence on the creation of a sense of nationhood and a distinctly Australian character and identity.  Bean's vision of a war memorial as a place to house the objects made sacred by their direct association with the events and sacrifice of Australians at war was embodied in the establishment of the AWM.  A purpose built repository, the AWM is a place where the nature of commemoration was based on an integral relationship between the building, commemorative spaces and the collections of objects and records.  This is rare in Australia and uncommon in the world.  The AWM has a unique and important function in collecting and displaying objects and records of Australians' experience of war.  It has the potential to yield information that will contribute to Australia's social, political and military history.

 The role of the AWM with its central location in the nation's capital is an important landmark in Australia and a popular national icon.  Although the AWM was not part of the original design for Canberra, Walter Burley Griffin agreed that it would be a fitting structure for its prominent position.  The surrounding landscape design, indigenous and exotic plantings and setting and sympathetic location of associated structures and the symmetry of land axis have maintained the importance of the views of the AWM and its dominance in the landscape.  As the terminating building at the northern end of the land axis of Griffin's plan for Canberra, the AWM makes a major contribution to the principal views from both Parliament Houses and from Mount Ainslie.  Major features of the original site include: the main building; the external fabric; the ceremonial landscape including indigenous and exotic plantings immediately in front of the main building; the Lone Pine tree; and displays and sculptures.  The Hall of Memory with the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and in conjunction with aspects of its setting, demonstrates changing and evolving concepts of commemoration.  The courtyard and its honour colonnade, the reflection pool and plantings contribute to its outstanding significance.

 The AWM in its setting is of outstanding importance for its aesthetic characteristics.  The place is highly valued for its great beauty by the Australian community and veteran groups.  The main building and the surrounding landscape, the Hall of Memory, the Roll of Honour, ANZAC Hall and