Stone of Remembrance moved to complete new Parade Ground

The Stone of Remembrance is returning to the Parade Ground of the Australian War Memorial.

First installed at the Memorial in 1962, the stone became the focal point for national commemorative services including Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.

In 2021 it was moved to the Memorial’s Western Courtyard to allow for construction works on the Parade Ground as part of the Development Program.

Weighing six-and-a-half-tonnes, a crane will be used to carefully move the stone from the Western Courtyard to pride of place at the head of the Parade Ground. Preparatory works are underway on the foundations with the Stone to be lifted into place on Friday 17 May.

“The return of the Stone is an important moment in the Memorial’s development,” said Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson. “It will once again be at the very heart of remembrance in Australia.”

The return of the Stone of Remembrance will allow national ceremonies to return to the Parade Ground, beginning with Remembrance Day in November 2024.

“Following the large crowds who attended the memorial on Anzac Day in 2024 we are delighted the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Veterans March will both occur on the Parade Ground from 2025. We thank veterans and the people of Australia, and Canberra in particular, for their patience during the construction phase,” Mr Anderson said.

Further milestones in the Development Program remain on schedule, occurring throughout 2024. In September, visitors will again be able to enter into the Memorial’s Commemorative Area through the original heritage entrance.

In December, construction of the southern end of the memorial will be completed and new entrances will open on east and west sides of the Parade Ground, providing easy access to new underground visitor spaces.