Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p17
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 50398–53241

from Europe. This architectural styling became popular in Canberra in the postwar period, influencing buildings such as the Institute of Anatomy (now the National Film and Sound Archive) built in 1928–1930. The form of the AWM and design of the main Memorial building was also strongly influenced by Crust's intention to incorporate a commemorative courtyard for the Roll of Honour, along with CEW Bean's original concept for a central 'great hall', now the Hall of Memory.

 Construction at the AWM, which began in 1928–1929, was curtailed and then postponed by the onset of the Depression. In 1934, the 'Lone Pine' propagated from seed brought back from the battlefield of Gallipoli was planted within the otherwise denuded landscape (refer to Figure 2.4). Some construction work started again but many details of the building remained unresolved. While the main Memorial building is one of Australia's earliest major buildings designed and constructed in the Art Deco style, the design was subject to a host of changes and the details of the building were not finally settled until 1936.

   Figure 2.4 The Duke of Gloucester planting the Lone Pine, 1933. (Source: National Library of Australia, P583, Album 827)

   In 1937 the Memorial's Board resolved to commission sculpture, stained glass windows and mosaics to complete the Hall of Memory. Napier Waller, a noted Australian artist in large scale murals and mosaics, was invited to submit designs for both the mosaic and stained glass. Leslie Bowles was commissioned to produce designs for the large scale sculpture. Both artists had served in the armed forces in World War I. During World War II, the interiors of the Hall of Memory were reconsidered, and Percy Meldrum collaborated with the artists to help solve the architectural issues of the applied decoration. While Waller was able to proceed with his designs for mosaics, Bowles' models were rejected. Ray Ewers continued Bowles' work, with the design for the 'Australian servicemen' being accepted in 1955. The installation of the mosaics also commenced in 1955, under the supervision of Aldo Rossi and Severino de Marco (refer to Figure 2.5). The Hall of Memory was finally opened in 1959 (refer to Figure 2.6).

 Figure 2.5 Aldo Rossi, Severino de Marco and Mr Napier Waller examining mosaic prior to fixing, 1955. (Source: Australian War Memorial, ID number 042349)

 Figure 2.6 Aldo Rossi putting the finishing touches to the dome in 1958. (Source: National Archives of Australia, A1200/18)

   Parts of the main Memorial building were occupied by AWM staff and collections as early as 1935, although the main structure was not completed until 1941 (Figure 2.7–Figure 2.8). The official opening on 11 November 1941, Remembrance Day, acknowledged that the building was substantially complete, however, some areas