Typical of a travel brochure, many of our iconic Canberra attractions are really only ever visited by locals when family or friends come to town.

As was the case for Bethany Nevile. Having only ever visited many of our national institutions for school excursions or been dragged to them as a kid (or, realising that she’d never actually ever checked them out), Beth decided to make a ‘re-visit and live it’ list.

In this series, Beth has revisited iconic landmarks around the capital and rediscovered tourist attractions that are often forgotten (the ones we’re all guilty of driving by each day without giving a second thought).

This series will hopefully inspire you to revisit some of Canberra’s institutional treasures with new eyes, fresh enthusiasm and the determination to reinvigorate an appreciation for the city you call home.

THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Make your way down Mount Ainslie. Be taken aback by the beauty of our Australian War Memorial.

It is a stunning building, first envisioned by war correspondent Charles Bean in 1918 as “on some hill-top—still, beautiful, gleaming white and silent, a building of three parts, a centre and two wings”.

The War Memorial was completed in 1941 and has been extended several times since (you can read more about its history here).

It now houses museum displays and archives inside, as well as the shrine and honour roll surrounding the outdoor courtyard.

The Australian War Memorial holds a special place in Canberra and remains a place of remembrance—a testament to sacrifice and an insight into our country’s history.

Begin your revisit outside, in the Commemorative Courtyard. It is a place to reflect, as wherever you stand you are surrounded by the Roll of Honour, listing the names of every Australian who has died in war since 1885.

As there are so many names, sorted chronologically and by battalion, the War Memorial’s website has a search function, where you can input as much information as you know from Name, Service Number, Unit Name and Conflict.

This is incredibly useful, as clicking on the link not only helps you find the exact location of a name on the Roll, perhaps to place a poppy beside it, but it also provides a wealth of historical details.

During the centenary (2014-2018), each and every name of an Australian who gave their life in the First World War was projected above the Hall of Memory for 30 seconds, from sunset to sunrise.

You can also use the Roll of Honour search to check the estimated date and time a particular name will be displayed.

The Pool of Reflection. Credit: Martin Ollman.

Stand by the eternal flame on the Pool of Reflection, which represents Australia’s commitment to never forget our servicemen and women. At the end of the courtyard stands the Hall of Memory. This is a special space.

The tall stained-glass windows will take your breath away. Each image represents a personal quality—Endurance, Patriotism, Chivalry, Devotion.

The ceiling of the Hall is a stunningly beautiful Byzantine dome that reaches 24 metres above the ground, a pinnacle of the intricate tiled pattern that covers the walls. In the centre of the Hall is the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.

The tomb is inscribed at the top as “Known unto God” and the bottom reads “He symbolises all Australians who have died in war”.

All visitors should spend some quiet time here.

As you walk into inside into the museum, you will be struck by the quote from Charles Bean across the wall which acts almost as the motto for the War Memorial:

“HERE IS THEIR SPIRIT, IN THE HEART OF THE LAND THEY LOVED; AND HERE WE GUARD THE RECORD WHICH THEY THEMSELVES MADE.”

It sets the tone for the exhibitions to follow, both reflective and respectful.

If you’re a Canberran who hasn’t visited the War Memorial for quite some time, you’ll find yourself asking—was it always this big?

Expansive galleries spread across the building, however, it is never confusing, as each room is set out chronologically making it simple to wander through and interact with each exhibition.

The First World War galleries went through a major overhaul a few years ago and now occupy the west wing of the memorial. It includes interactive displays, overhead sounds and much, much more.

You will be glad to see the large dioramas are still intact and will be in awe by all the authentic clothes and objects on display. The War Memorial also offers snippets of personal experiences and stories, providing insight into the lives and deaths of these 102,000 Australians.

In commemoration of Remembrance Day, for this revisit, I recommend focussing on the First World War area and the outside spaces, maybe spend some time in The Hall of Valour, which honours the 108 Australians who have received the Victoria or George Cross.

There is an image of each Australian, their medal and a short description of their bravery.

Of course, the War Memorial also contains an expansive display on the Second World War, which includes separate sections for each time period, from 1939 when the war was declared until the final campaigns of 1944-45.

The War Memorial also has classic aircraft on display in the Aircraft Hall, and galleries covering more recent conflict, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War as well as modern peacekeeping efforts.

It is especially worth mentioning that the war memorial is displaying Brothers in Arms: the Vietnamese Australian experience of the Vietnam War until April 2020 and Napier Waller Art Prize until 17 November 2019. See them while you can.

Revisiting the war memorial could be described as “peeling back the layers of time”, which perfectly sums up how it feels to visit the Australian War Memorial.

As a Canberran, you probably drive past or see this building regularly but, may not have taken the time to revisit it in too long.

Now is the time to return.

Feature image: Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial via Facebook