A WAR SHRINE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 15

A WAR SHRINE.

VICTORIA'S MEMORIAL. U'HOU OT7B OWS CORBESPOHDHXT.) SYDNEY, September 11. Gradually Victoria's Shrine of Komembrance in Melbourne, one of the finest war memorials planned in Australia, is taking shape. Although another two years will elapse before it is completed, it is already a landmark in the city. It will tower another 30 feet into the air, and it is easy to visualise what a dignified memorial it will be and what an inspiration of faith, honour, and brotherhood —the lessons it is intended to convey to tho coming generations. There are now 110 operatives at work on the erection of the Shrine which is to become the x>rido of Melbourne, a city already widely noted for its splendid civic spirit. Tho stone required is being drawn from various parts of the Commonwealth. For the twelve action panels that will depict the various units of the Australian Forces stone from the Hawkesbury river district, in New South Wales, will be used. The carving of the four allegorical groups of statuary for the buttresses—two for the east and two for the west sido—is proceeding. The figures in these groups ar- of heroic size, say, one and a half times the proportion of living man.* The total height of each group is 23 feet. To secure sculptures for the carving the war memorial committee advertised throughout Groat Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The size of the work must have frightened stone carvers, for there was no response from Great Britain. Nor was thjere any from New Zealand or from any of the States of the Commonwealth outside Victoria. Everyone seemed afraid to tackle the job, and there were only six tenders and all of them from Melbourne. These groups are the largest groups in carved stone that have been attempted since tht days of Egypt. The first of the action panels is now, in a semi-completed state. It represents infantry in the trenches and is the first one to bo carved of the Hawkes-

bury freestone. Some of the stones are two and three tons in weight. It was the school children of Victoria who raised the money for this particular section. The first of the twenty granite urns is now in position, and gives a suggestion of the decorative effect. Inside the Shrine the 16 monoliths of polished black marble are in position. Each weighs sis tone.