Attraction
National Gallery of Victoria
Australia's oldest public art museum, with free general entry to NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Australian collection at Fed Square.
Shrine of Remembrance
Melbourne's war memorial in Kings Domain, completed in 1934, with free entry, hourly guided tours and underground Galleries of Remembrance.
At a glance
- Type
- War memorial and museum
- Area
- Kings Domain, Melbourne, Australia
- Opening
- Open daily · 10:00–17:00
- Official site
- shrine.org.au
Good to know
- Free entry
- Guided tours
- Family programs
Why we recommend it
The Shrine of Remembrance stands in Kings Domain, the parkland along St Kilda Road, and is the memorial at the centre of Melbourne's Anzac Day and Remembrance Day observances. It was proposed in 1918, the foundation stone was laid on 11 November 1927, and the building was completed in 1934 and dedicated on Armistice Day that year. Its architects, Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop, were both veterans of the First World War, and their winning design was announced in 1923.
The building is designed around a single moment. At 11am on 11 November, a shaft of sunlight passes through an opening in the roof and falls on the word Love in the inscription Greater love hath no man, on the Stone of Remembrance. Because of daylight saving time, a mirror is now used to direct the light at the right hour. Outside, on the north side, the Eternal Flame burns beside the Second World War memorial and has done so almost continuously since it was first lit.
Below the main building, the Galleries of Remembrance opened on Remembrance Day 2014, extending the undercroft to the south. The exhibition is built around a lifeboat from the SS Devanha that was used during the landing at Anzac Cove. The Shrine also runs family programs and Explorer Kit activities aimed at children.
Entry is free, with donations welcome. The Shrine is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday, with last entry at 4:30pm. Guided tours led by staff run on the hour from 10am to 4pm, except at 1pm, and are the best way to understand the symbolism of the building. Allow at least an hour, or longer if you join a tour and spend time in the galleries. The upper balcony is also open to visitors.
The Shrine is the setting for Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service, the first of the day's commemorations, which drew a record crowd of more than 35,000 people in 2007. Trams along St Kilda Road stop at the Shrine of Remembrance stop, and it is easy to combine with a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens, whose Observatory Gate is a short walk away.
Shrine of Remembrance FAQs
Is the Shrine of Remembrance free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free and donations are welcome.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 5pm daily, with last entry at 4:30pm. It is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Are there guided tours?
Yes. Tours run on the hour from 10am to 4pm, except at 1pm.
What is the Ray of Light?
At 11am on 11 November, light falls through the roof onto the word Love on the Stone of Remembrance. A mirror is now used to direct the light because of daylight saving.
What are the Galleries of Remembrance?
An underground exhibition space opened in 2014, centred on a lifeboat from SS Devanha used at the Anzac Cove landing.
When was the Shrine built?
Building began in 1928 and it was dedicated on 11 November 1934.
How do I get there?
Trams along St Kilda Road stop at the Shrine of Remembrance stop, and it is next to the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The Shrine runs family programs and Explorer Kit activities for children.