Australian National Vietnam War Memorial

The memorial remembers those who suffered and died in the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1973. The campaign for a Vietnam memorial dates from the 'Welcome Home Parade' held in Sydney on 3 October 1987 and dedication took place exactly five years later.

It is the joint work of architect Peter Tonkin and sculptor Ken Unsworth and responds to the design competition requirements to express 'the link between the Australian Vietnam Forces and the original ANZAC Force' and also to represent 'the controversy at home'. The external design was limited by ceremonial and parade considerations and by other memorials along Anzac Parade. The designers wanted to incorporate the four elements of earth, wind, water and fire. The domed shape of the internal floor represents the earth and the whole structure is open to the wind. A moat defines an island across the water and removed from the outside world. Unfortunately, cost restraints and the fire risk meant a permanent flame wasn't permitted so fire is represented by the sunlight across the face of the memorial.

The exterior is constructed of three cast-in-situ prestressed concrete forms or stelae, which project 9.5 metres above the base podium. ('stelae' is Greek for 'headstones'.) Each stele is tapered and inclined to the centre of the memorial. In the original design the stelae had flat surfaces but the designers decided that twisting them would invoke a feeling of movement and give them light and shadow. They are tapered and inclined to the centre, symbolising commemoration and contemplation. Suspended from the stelae and forming the centrepiece of the memorial is a granite ring or halo symbolising the spirits of the dead being lifted from the earth. Sealed within one of the stones of the ring is a scroll bearing the names of the 508 Australians who died in the conflict.

On the inner face of the western stele is etched a larger than life representation of members of the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment being airlifted by U.S. helicopters from the fishing village of Lang Phuoc Hai to return to Nui Dat.

It is a blow-up of an Army public relations photo taken by Sgt. Mike Coleridge and preserves a typical real life image of the conflict. The image was engraved in situ on 400 pieces of variable sized, triangular South Australian Imperial Black granite.

This is the photo that was reproduced

Eighty-one one metre photographs were stuck on top of two layers of sandblasting tape and, in a very delicate operation, an engraver's tool was used to cut through the photographs and two layers of tape without touching the stone. The exposed stone was sandblasted to a depth of 1 mm to create the grey effect and the tape was then removed, leaving behind the image.

The northern stele has fixed to it a series of quotations in stainless steel lettering. The designers originally suggested half a dozen quotations which they thought would add to the interior and lessen the impact of blank walls. The committee agreed with the idea but wanted more than six so they called for suggestions from veterans and from the many submissions selected 34 which preserve the language and slang of the war. No attribution for the inscriptions is provided on the wall as the assessors felt that this best served the sense of the consistent and equal value to be placed upon each quotation. Each letter is made of 3mm gauge stainless steel, 65mm high using a Futura typeface.

The inner wall of the southern stele is left as plain unadorned concrete and functions as a site of personal contemplation, separate but not divorced from the specific memories recalled by the other walls. In front of this wall and off centre of the entire internal space is the 'Memorial Stone' - a monolith of black granite, which functions in part as an altar, in part as the earthbound component of the contemplative inspirational function.

The inner space or podium is tiled in black granite and is bounded by a moat.

To the north there is a small forecourt area covered in gravel, to the rear of which is a wide flight of stairs leading to the exterior of the northern stele, and beyond that to an entrance ramp at the north western edge of the central structure. Looking to the south there is a larger forecourt area also surfaced in gravel. At the southern edge of this forecourt there are three 9-metre flagpoles. At the rear or western edge there is a retaining wall with a low shelf. This is an area designated for the laying of wreaths. Surmounting this low wall are large steel letters spelling VIETNAM. Further to the south is a landscaped turf ramp, also leading from street level to the level of the plinth and to the rear south-western ramp.

In the landscaped turf area surrounding the central building there are three concrete memorial 'seats' At each end of these memorials is the name of one of the six Australians recorded as Missing In Action.

Inscriptions on inner face of northern stele
THE RAAF DUST-OFF PILOTS HAD NO LIGHT AND SHOWED GREAT SKILL IN COMING DOWN.

SUNRAY WAS DIRECTING THE LIGHTFIRE TEAM - BUSHRANGERS - FROM HIS POSSUM.

THE PART PLAYED BY ARTILLERY WAS DECISIVE.

WHAT WE DID ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN THE MORNING WAS ON OUR LIVING ROOM TV SCREENS THAT NIGHT.

THE NVA HUGGED OUR WITHDRAWAL AND ENGAGED THE DUST-OFF CHOPPERS.

THE TANKS WENT AHEAD OF THE INFANTRY IN APC'S.

THE EFFORT REQUIRED OF NURSING SISTERS INDICATES THEIR TOUR OF DUTY SHOULD BE REDUCED

HOBART WAS BRACKETED REPEATEDLY BY MEDIUM TO LARGE SPLASHES.

THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY WAS LIKE THE POST-VERSAILLES GERMAN ARMY-MEN IN THE RANKS COULD HAVE BEEN LEADERS GENERAL WESTMORELAND

THE ENEMY JOINED OUR COMMAND RADIO NET, THREW COLOURED SMOKE AND ALMOST SUCKED THE CO INTO A LANDING.

BIG CONTACT TONIGHT IN THE BINH BA RUBBER. TROOPS HIT WITH RPG'S. READY REACTION FORCE WENT OUT IN APC'S.

NOBODY'S GOT 365 DAYS AND A WAKEY TO GO.

AN EXTREME EFFORT WAS DEMANDED FROM NURSING STAFF ON THOSE OCCASIONS
- OVER 24 HOURS ON DUTY WAS DONE ON MOST OF THE DAYS MENTIONED.

THE TEAM.

MAGPIE 35, HIT MY SMOKE.

PERTH ENGAGED FIVE C D SITES AS PRIMARY TARGETS, PROVIDED SUPPRESSION FIRE AND STOPPED A CROSS LOT ON
HON ME ISLAND FROM RADIATING.

CONTACT - STAND BY DUST OFF.

THE DECISION TO SEND AN AUSTRALIAN BATTALION TO VIETNAM IS A GRAVE ONE. THESE ARE
INESCAPABLE OBLIGATIONS WHICH FALL ON US BECAUSE OF OUR POSITION, TREATIES AND FRIENDSHIP.
THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO RESPOND AS WE HAVE.

AUSTRALIA'S LAST COMBAT FORCES LEFT SOUTH VIETNAM YESTERDAY ON BOARD HMAS SYDNEY, ENDING 10 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR.

I DON'T SEEM TO HAVE MANY FRIENDS SINCE I CAME HOME. IF YOU WEREN'T THERE, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND.

MORE THAN EVER BEFORE TV SHOWED THE TERRIBLE HUMAN SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE OF WAR. RICHARD NIXON.

FROM 1965 ARMY UNITS IN VIETNAM CONSISTED OF ABOUT 50% NATIONAL SERVICEMEN AND 50% REGULAR ARMY. ABOUT 20,000 NATIONAL SERVICEMEN SERVED IN VIETNAM.

THIS IS PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON IN YOUR LOCATION.

THEN SOMEONE CALLED OUT 'CONTACT!' AND THE BLOKE BEHIND ME SWORE
WE HOOKED IN THERE FOR HOURS, THEN A GOD - ALMIGHTY ROAR
FRANKIE KICKED A MINE, THE DAY THAT MANKIND KICKED THE MOON
GOD HELP ME, HE WAS GOING HOME IN JUNE

LIKE CHICKEN MAN - THERE WERE CHARLIES EVERYWHERE!

MORE THAN 750,000 MEN TURNED TWENTY DURING THE YEARS OF THE WAR - A BALLOT, WITH MARBLES SPUN IN A
BARREL, WAS USED TO HELP SELECT THOSE FOR CONSCRIPTION.

THROW SMOKE! - I SEE GREEN - AFFIRMATIVE!

PHANTOMS AND SPOOKY WERE INVALUABLE, BUT THE HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS GAVE THE BEST AIR SUPPORT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MODERN HISTORY THE OUTCOME OF WAR WAS DETERMINED NOT ON THE BATTLEFIELD BUT ON THE TV SCREEN.

OUR FAMILY FOUND ITSELF DIVIDED OVER VIETNAM.

AS A VARIATION WE CLOSED THE VILLAGE CORDON IN DAYLIGHT AND SEARCHED NEXT MORNING.

WE MUST LEARN TO UNDERSTAND NVA BUNKER SIGN - TRACKS: LATRINES, DEAD BRANCHES, STREAMS.

AT VAMPIRE PAD OUR OWN DOCTORS AND NURSES TOOK OVER - WE KNEW WE HAD MADE IT.

ON 3 OCTOBER 1987, 25,000 VIETNAM VETERANS MARCHED IN A WELCOME HOME PARADE THROUGH SYDNEY, TO THE CHEERS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS. IT WAS THE GREATEST EMOTIONAL OUTPOURING WITNESSED IN DECADES.

On lower right hand corner of western stele

THIS IMAGE IS AN ENLARGEMENT OF A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY PROVINCE IN SOUTH VIETNAM.IT SHOWS AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS BEING AIRLIFTED TO NUI DAT AFTER THE COMPLETION OF PERATION ULMARRAH.

On top surface of memorial stone
CONTAINED WITHIN THE CIRCLE SUSPENDED ABOVE ARE THE NAMES OF THOSE AUSTRALIANS WHO DIED IN THE VIETNAM WAR 1962 - 1978

On northern face of memorial stone
Insignia of Insignia of Insignia of
Royal Australian Air Force Australian Military Forces Royal Australian Navy

Above wall on south west side of memorial
VIETNAM

Below this on west face of wall
FOR ALL THOSE WHO SUFFERED AND DIED ^. VIETNAM ^.1962 - 1973

On plaque between westernmost and centre flagpoles on south side of forecourt
IN THE PRESENCE OF

THE HONOURABLE BILL HAYDEN AC
GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
AND

THE HONOURABLE PJ KEATING MP
PRIME MINISTER

THIS MEMORIAL WAS UNVEILED BY
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
SIR THOMAS DALEY KBE CB DSO
MR KEITH PAYNE VC
MISS BRONWYN BLUE
MRS ROBIN MAHOOD

ON OCTOBER 3 1992

THE MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED
ON BEHALF OF
THE AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM FORCES
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
WITH FUNDS DONATED BY
THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA

.TONTONKIN ZULACKHA HARFORD ARCHITECTS
KEN UNSWORTH AM SCULPTOR
INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION PTY LTD BUILDER
NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING AUTHORITY

On plaque between centre and easternmost flagpoles on south side of forecourt

The Memorial is conceived as an open structure,
	its centre a resonant contemplative space which
	recalls the physical experience of Vietnam.
	.
	The memorial is made up of three forms inspired
	by ancient standing stones and by the classical
	Greek Stelae. Such forms have always symbolised
	commemoration and contemplation, and remain
	amongst the most durable and and potent of our
	creation.
	.
	The great stones stand on a shallow moat, a
	symbolic cordon against the outside world,
	bridged by the entry ramps.
	.
	Above, suspended by the stelae, is a circle or
	halo of stones, floating in constantly changing,
	shafts of light and shadow. A scroll containing the
	names of those Australians who died in the
	Vietnam war, is sealed into one of the stones of
	the circle. The stones deny the physical past, their
	seemingly disembodied earthliness recalls the
	sacrifices made by the individuals who fought and
	died. Endlessly becoming, the stones are air and light.
	.
	The focus of the Memorial is a larger than life
	image etched into stone, a photograph of
	Australian servicemen in Vietnam. Shards of
	common memory seen and felt, emerge shining,
	durable, out of the black granite surface of the
	wall.
	.
	On a second stele the written word is used as a
	reminder of the actual and hidden realities of the
	war expressed in contemporary quotations, both
	colloquial and official. The third stele is blank,
	receiving the thoughts and emotions of the visitor
	to the Memorial.
	.
	Surrounding the Memorial are six seats dedicated
	to the memory of the Vietnam servicemen who are
	Missing in Action.

Memorial seat - south east side of memorial
East face
IN MEMORY OF
ROBERT CHARLES CARVER
MISSING IN ACTION 4.11.1970

West face
IN MEMORY OF
MICHAEL PATRICK JOHN HERBERT
MISSING IN ACTION 3.11.1970

Memorial seat - south west side of memorial
South face
IN MEMORY OF
PETER RAYMOND GILLSON
MISSING IN ACTION 8.11.1965

North face
IN MEMORY OF
RICHARD HAROLD JOHN PARKER
MISSING IN ACTION 8.11.1965

Memorial seat - north side of memorial
East face
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN FRANCIS GILLESPIE
MISSING IN ACTION 17.4.1971

West face
IN MEMORY OF
DAVID JOHN ELKINGTON FISHER
MISSING IN ACTION 27.9.1969

Plaque in garden bed on east side of memorial
AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM FORCES NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Map of the world

From 1962 to 1973, 50,000 Australians served in South Vietnam as part of a composite force, predominantly of American troops. The Australian Vietnam Forces National memorial is dedicated to all those Australians who served, suffered and died in that conflict.

The memorial was designed by the architectural firm, Tonkin Zulaikha Harford, in association with sculptor Ken Unsworth AM. It was built largely through contributions from the Australian people, raised by the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial Committee.

Three concrete stelae, rising from a shallow moat, form the dramatic centre of the memorial and enclose a space for quiet contemplation. Fixed to the inner right-hand wall are 33 inscriptions, a series of quotations intended to recall events of political and military importance. The photography etched into the rear wall shows Australian soldiers waiting to be airlifted to Nui Dat after the completion of Operation Ulmarrah. Suspended from the pillars is a 'halo' of stones. A scroll containing the names of Australians who died in the Vietnam War is sealed into the stone, which bears a cross. Surrounding the memorial are seats dedicated to the memory of the six Vietnam servicemen missing in action.

Coat of arms of Commonwealth of Australia

Information current to April 2001

Sources: The Memorials of Anzac Parade, pamphlet produced by the National Capital Authority, Canberra, undated
                 Dedication of the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, website, compiled 1995 by Shane Fontana
                                  http://www.vietvet.org/aussimem.htm (as at 19 Feb 2000)
                 The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, draft of article for ANU Reporter by Ken Inglis, The Inglis Collection in Australian War Memorial, AWM PR 00944
                 Canberra Times, 3 October 1992, article by Ian McPhedran