Design Principles
- The major changes to the beach front at new Anzac Commemorative site are shown here
- Anzac crowds visiting the Anzac Commemorative site 24 April 2000
The site has been built as an area for commemoration and interpretation
and will be intensively used on April 25 each year for the
ANZAC dawn service, when 10,000–15,000 people attend.
For much of the remainder of the year it is expected that
approximately 200–300 people per day will visit the
site for the purposes of cultural tourism and in particular,
to gain further understanding of the Gallipoli campaign.
- The final stages of laying the stone paving at the new Anzac Commemorative site, April 2000
The site has
been designed as an open glade and is formed by grasses
and native vegetation to complement the existing character
of the native vegetation of the area. The concept of the
design is that it has minimal visual intrusion into the
surrounding area and is viewed as an open glade. This landscape
approach contrasts with the other cultural landscapes of
the area of which the cemeteries, maintained by the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission form the most prominent elements.
- Planting native shrubs at the new Anzac Commemorative site, March–April 2000
The intent of the design is that the site sits into the existing landscape as much as possible. To this end native vegetation has been used to the periphery of the site with informal grasses used to the centre of the site.
- Earth works and plantings at the new Anzac Commemorative site, March–April 2000
In the maintenance of the
site it is important that the natural setting of the
place forms a central theme.The form of the space
and the size of the built elements were all designed
to achieve this result. The landscape elements also
follow this principle and complement the existing
planting and landscape feeling.
- Finishing turf laying at the new Anzac Commemorative site, April 2000
The grassed area
is similar in character to the existing areas surrounding
the site with plants encroaching into the grass area. The
grass is maintained at a height that is suitable for visitation
and optimum grass growth. It is not intended that the grass
be maintained to emulate the war cemeteries on the peninsula.
The planting associated with the site contributes to rehabilitation
of the area with only native plants used. The planting will
not be clipped or manicured but left to grow naturally.