WONDER SHRINE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 72, 22 September 1930, Page 8

WONDER SHRINE

VICTORIA'S MEMORIAL

GIGANTIC TASK

(From "The. Pott's" FUpreswitetlv*.) SYDNEY, 11th September.

Gradually Victoria's Shrine of Eemeinbrance 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 to faith, honour, and brotherhood —the lessons it is intended to convey to the coming generations. There are now 110 operatives at work on the erection of the Shrine, which is to become the pride of Melbourne, a city already widely noted for its splendid civic spirit. The 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 side—is proceeding. The figures in these groups are 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 Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Tho size of the work must have frightened stonecarvers, for there was no response from Great Britain. "Nor was there 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 the days of Egypt. The first of the action panels is now in a semi-completed state. It represents infantry in tho 'trenches, and is the first one to be carved of the Hawkcsbnry freestone. Somo 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 tho sixteen monoliths of polished black marble are in position, linen weighs six; tons.