Australian–American Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian–American Memorial |
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| Canberra | |
Australian–American Memorial
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| For American service personnel assistance during the war in the Pacific | |
| Unveiled | 16 February 1954 |
| Location |
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Square, Russell, Canberra
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| Designed by | Richard Minchin Ure |
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In grateful remembrance
of the vital help given by the United States of America during the war in the Pacific 1941-1945. Unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 16 February 1954 |
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The Australian–American Memorial is a special monument in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It was built to remember the important help the United States gave to Australia during the Pacific War (part of World War II).
Why the Memorial Was Built
In 1948, a group called the Australian-American Association had an idea. They wanted to build a memorial in Canberra. This memorial would honor the American soldiers who helped Australia during the war. It would also show the strong friendship between Australia and America.
The then-Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Robert Menzies, asked Australians to donate money for the memorial. People gave a lot of money, more than £100,000! This was a huge amount back then. It showed how thankful the Australian people were for the help they received. Some extra memorials were also built in Brisbane and Adelaide using the extra money.
A special group was formed to choose the best design for the monument. This group included important people like Richard Casey and Sir Keith Murdoch. A Sydney architect named Richard M. Ure won the design competition. Building started in December 1952 and took just over a year. The Vice President of the United States at the time, Richard Nixon, even visited the site while it was being built. The memorial was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on February 16, 1954.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial is a tall, hollow tower. It has eight sides and gets narrower towards the top. It's made from a steel frame covered with aluminium panels. These panels were sandblasted to make them look like stone.
At the bottom of the tower, there are two large pictures, called murals. One mural tells the story of American soldiers fighting in the Pacific. The other shows a map of the United States made from copper. A water-filled ditch, about 3 meters wide, surrounds the tower.
Below the main message on the memorial, there's a bronze wreath carved by Walter Langcake. People often place real flower wreaths here during special events. On top of the tower is a bronze ball. On top of the ball is a statue of the American eagle, created by the famous sculptor Paul Beadle. The eagle is a symbol of the United States.
The whole memorial is about 79 meters tall. The eagle and the ball together are about 11 meters high and weigh 3.5 tons!
Where It Is Located
The memorial stands on Russell Hill in Canberra. It's close to the Parliamentary Triangle, which is an important area with government buildings. The Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence now have their main offices, called Russell Offices, built around the memorial. The area right around the memorial is called Blamey Square, named after a military leader, Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey.
The memorial was repaired and cleaned in 2014. After this work, a new plaque was placed at its base.
Gallery
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Original model of the Australian–American Memorial in 1953
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Eagle and sphere Australian–American Memorial at Russell Hill, 15 September 1953
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Official unveiling of the Australian–American Memorial on 16 February 1954
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Inscription marking the unveiling of the monument
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Detail of eagle
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Rear of the eagle
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View from below
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From the base of the memorial looking west along Kings Avenue towards the New Parliament House.
