From conception to construction: the design of a national icon. The Australian War Memorial

Few buildings are as recognisable and distinctive as the Australian War Memorial. Nestled at the base of Mount Ainslie, its familiar domed form blends naturally with the bush landscape, but its origins lay in events a quarter of a century earlier on the other side of the world. The story of how this iconic building came to be designed and built is one of delays, conflict and frustration. It was the product of an unhappy architectural collaboration that – against the odds – achieved a harmonious fusion of classical and art deco styles in a unique building that is to many the symbol of the soul of the nation.

We invite you to join Ashley Ekins, head of military history at the Australian War Memorial, to learn more about the struggles and challenges that shaped the design of this iconic building.