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Sir John Monash Centre update

News

Posted on 12 February 2018

Work on the Sir John Monash Centre is progressing well, ready for the official opening in April 2018 and a busy year of centenary commemorations.

Work on the Sir John Monash Centre is progressing well, ready for the official opening in April 2018 and a busy year of centenary commemorations.

The Centre, at the Australian National Memorial site, is being built by French contractors to the architectural design of Australian firm, Cox Architects and the interpretive design of Convergence Associates.

Wildbear Entertainment are putting the finishing touches on the Centre’s extensive film content while digital firm Transpire is on-site, installing the Beacon technology, software and multimedia screens that will power the interpretive experience via an app on visitors’ personal mobile devices.

The fit-out is almost complete and features Australian timbers from every state and territory.

The Australian timbers are used in wall linings, showcases, doors, the café and furniture throughout the Centre, and demonstrates the finest of Australian woodworking.

The craftsmanship is by one of Australia’s leading furniture designers, Grant Rollinson from Tharwa, near Canberra.

Artworks commissioned for the Centre are also nearing completion, ready to make their way to the site north of Paris.

The tapestry, ‘Morning Star’, is currently on display at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne until 24 February, while two Aboriginal artists are about to present their works to the Centre’s project team.

Laurie Nilsen is producing a sculpture of two male emus, titled ‘Goolburris on Foreign Soil’, while Ray Ken is painting the Anangu people’s traditional story of the spear, titled ‘Kulata Tjuta’.

In Canberra, glass artist Lisa Cahill is working on her giant sculpture of the Rising Sun which will sit in courtyard at the Centre, capturing the natural light and giving visitors a pause for reflection.

While the original landscape has been maintained, an additional 49 yew trees have been planted and 95 pine trees replaced.

Bookings are essential for school and tour groups and are advisable for general admission during busy periods.

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