Visit Gallipoli

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 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.

The final stages of laying the stone paving at the new Anzac Commemorative site, April 2000

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.

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.

Earth works and plantings at the new Anzac Commemorative site, March–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.

Finishing turf laying at the new Anzac Commemorative site, April 2000