MEMORIAL PLAQUE PROJECT

The Shrine of Remembrance is surrounded by 13 hectares of urban landscape known as the Shrine Reserve. Amongst its manicured lawns, landscaped memorial gardens and extensive tree canopy are over 280 memorial trees and associated plaques, each one dedicated to a unit, battalion, ship, squadron, Allied Nation or other Australian Defence Force group, force or operation.

The Memorial Trees Project started with an extensive boots-on-the-ground survey in the summer of 2018 when the Shrine’s memorials, plaques and trees were identified, photographed and GPS-tagged. The condition of each plaque was recorded, they were cleaned and, where possible, re-aligned to be level and facing the Shrine. A new memorial plaque map was created to assist our visitors with finding service locations and navigating our extensive gardens. The survey materials are also shared with the City of Melbourne Urban Forest and Asset Management team, with regular updates when new plaques are dedicated. This information is included in the extensive open source Urban Forest website information available to all.

Visitor Services Officer Spencer Hurley tends to a plaque

This year, with support from the Victorian Government project funding to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we have undertaken to restore and repair all our Second World War memorial plaques. Each memorial plaque has been cleaned and its plinth repaired or, in some cases, replaced. A few plaques have been identified as requiring specialist restoration which will be undertaken once coronavirus (COViD-19) restrictions allow.

Visitor Services Officer Peter Luby tends to a plaque

Visitor Services Officer Peter Luby tends to a plaque

The ongoing care and maintenance of the memorial plaques is a labour of love for our Visitor Services team. Prior to every tree service and major event days, they mobilise with buckets in hand to ensure that the plaques look their best and receive the care and attention they deserve. it is an honour to be involved with the preservation of these precious memorials.

Read the full article in Remembrance November 2020–21