Shrine of Remembrance

In this episode, we take to you to September 2025 for a panel discussion tracing the experiences of the internees transported to Australia aboard the Dunera and Queen Mary during the Second World War, 85 years on from their arrival. Chairing the conversation is Seamus Spark, who is joined by panellists Professor Joy Damousi, Eva de Jong Duldig, Professor Tonia Eckfeld and Kate Garrett. This progra...

Pigeons. We love to hate them. But did you know they once played a critical and often life-saving role in military service?  In this episode, we uncover the remarkable role of pigeons in wartime and the stories of two feathered Dickin Medal winners who saved dozens of lives.   Correction: In this recording, it was stated that a pigeon travelled 65 km in 15 minutes. The correct timing is 65 km in 5...

Recorded just after the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, this enlightening panel conversation traces the vision, people and politics behind the creation of key post-war cemeteries. Convened by broadcaster and author Jon Faine AM, listen as the panellists uncover the importance of commemoration through architecture and the challenges architects faced in creating places of rememb...

It's hard to talk about Christmas without discussing food. Whether it's a seafood buffet or a traditional roast, the festive season is a gastronomic delight. But what happened during conflict? Were troops still able to celebrate with a warm meal?  Listen as the Shrine's Exhibitions and Grants coordinator Katrina Nicolson gets festive with frontline food. 

If you've ever heard a story and thought, "this should be a movie", then this episode is for you. From flying as a fighter pilot, to being shot down and escaping over the Pyrenees on foot, to later racing in the Grand Prix, Squadron Leader Tony Gaze's life reads like a Hollywood script. Listen as we uncover Tony's fascinating story and legacy. 

Bomber Command pilots in the Second World War faced horrible odds. With more than half never returning, survival alone was remarkable, but Wing Commander Peter Isaacson's story goes far beyond that. In this episode of Shrine Stories, we follow Isaacson's journey of earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses, leading the first Lancaster flight from England to Australia, and even making headlines by f...

When we think of war, we often picture the biggest danger being the guns, bombs, and bullets. But until the early 20th century, disease was actually the greatest killer on the battlefield. In several campaigns, illness claimed twice as many lives as enemy fire. During the Second World War, Major Henry Shannon played a critical role in the fight against this hidden enemy. Through innovative inventi...

Renowned for his bright, whimsical style, artist Dean Bowen is best known for works that bring joy to audiences. But in this episode, we explore a surprising shift. Inside the Shrine's Galleries hangs  Night Flyers, a powerful departure from Bowen's usual tone. Join us as Dean shares the story behind this work and why he felt compelled to create it.

Nestled in the quiet hills of Yokohama lies a place few Australians know about, yet its story binds us to an important chapter of our past. Yokohama War Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 1,500 Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives during the Second World War.   But this cemetery tells more than a story of loss. It speaks to reconciliation not only between former enemie...

You've probably heard of the Lone Pine Tree. It's one of the most iconic symbols in the world of military botanicals. But how much do you know about its origins? And how can you tell if a Lone Pine is actually the real deal? In this episode, we're diving deep into the roots (pun intended!) of this living memorial with Shrine volunteer Mary Ward.

Discover the unlikely, and at times almost unbelievable story behind a horse saddle on display in the Shrine's Galleries of Remembrance. Former Warrant Officer Leon Dimmack joins us to uncover the tale and how the saddle went from almost being thrown in the trash to an invaluable treasure. 

Uncover the world of camouflage with author and academic Professor Ann Elias.  Explore the artists, creatives, and naturalists who shaped camouflage techniques during conflict, the challenges they faced, and how their creative contributions influenced the Australian military. From face paint to full scale deception, you'll discover there's more to camouflage than meets they eye. 

These detailed, intricate shoes may look beautiful, but they have a horrific history.  In this episode of Shrine Stories, join Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson as she uncovers the story behind a pair of Lotus shoes on display in our galleries, and their unlikely link to stories of service.  WARNING: This episode contains themes that may be distressing for some audience. Listener discretion...

If you've been to a service at the Shrine, you will have seen our Shrine Guard dressed in their distinct uniform. And this year marks 90 years of their service to the Shrine.  In this episode you'll uncover how the Shrine Guard were formed, what their role looks like today, and importantly, how long it takes to shine their shoes with Senior Protective Services Officer David Rose'Meyer. 

The saying goes, 'an army marches on its stomach', but in theory what does this actually look like? How is food prepared in a makeshift kitchen during deployment? Who coordinates getting fresh food to these kitchens? And how are military chefs trained to withstand such a high-pressure environment in the face of conflict? Discover all this and more with Major Ruth Hayes OAM and Captain Brett Willia...

Ration packs are perhaps one of first things that spring to mind when we think of food in the military. But have you ever stopped to consider how they're developed? From their weight to their ability to be dropped from high altitutudes and withstand boiling and freezing climates, the science behind ration packs is incredibly complex. Ross Coad spent more than three decades working at the Defence S...

What did you have for dinner last night? Imagine if we took your dinner plans, put it 100 metres below sea level, multiplied the mouths to feed to about 60 and took out any fresh fruit or vegetables. This was a daily reality for Commander John Goss during his career as a cook in the Navy. John's story is one of many shared in the Shrine's special exhibition Taste of Combat: The Evolution of Milita...

Images of the Shrine of Remembrance today are abundant, but depictions of its construction are rare treasures. In this episode of Shrine Stories, Collections Coordinator Toby Miller delves into Alexander Colquhoun's painting of the Shrine being built, uncovering its artistic significance and the personal grief woven into its story.

Have you ever wondered how mail was received by soldiers on the front line? In this festive edition of Shrine Stories, Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson uncovers a unique Christmas message and unpacks just how complex it was to coordinate wartime post.   

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating history of the Shrine's Ray of Light. This feature was meticulously calculated so at 11am on November 11, a beam of sunlight would shine through a hole in the Shrine's roof and illuminate the word 'love' etched into the Stone of Remembrance. However, the introduction of daylight savings in 1971 threw a spanner in the works, causing the light to hit th...

Uncover a story of determination and ingenuity as Shrine curator Neil Sharkey reveals the story behind these aluminium false teeth. With links to Ambon, this item tells an important story about the conditions that prisoners of war endured and the struggle to survive. 

At the height of the Holocaust, twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp - mainly Jewish women and girls - were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. Drawing on diverse sources including interviews with the last surviving seamstress,  T...

In this episode of Shrine Stories, we uncover the story behind a toy rabbit on display in the galleries.  Listen as Shrine Education Officer Peter Luby uncovers its link to the fall of Singapore and the mystery behind its owner.  Music On this Day - Richard Smithson 

A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them.  In this episode, Dr Katti Williams share...

A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them.  Listen as Dr Katti Williams unpacks the...