Calendar of Events

11 August 2023 to July 2024 From cherished toy soldiers and adventure comics to immersive cadet training and captivating computer games, children have long engaged in war-like activities that ignite their imagination and spirit.   Through these games, stories, and activities, they navigate a world that can often seem senseless, finding meaning and understanding within […]

Keynote Speaker-Historian Carl Johnson author of Mud Over Blood-Stories of the 39th Battalion-1941-1943. Click here to order your copy If you have trekked Kokoda, then the campsite of Templeton’s Crossing will be familiar. Discover the story of the man behind the name. Captain Sam Templeton was the first Australian Officer to be captured by the […]

Australian society of the early 20th Century had many potential fault lines. But upon the outbreak of war in August 1914, most of these disappeared from sight, as much of the nation threw its support behind the war effort. This was to be the case in Armidale in northern NSW. Yet, by 1918, this rural […]

Join us for this compelling documentary that uncovers a thrilling detective trail across Australia and Europe as experts connect families with the fallen of Fromelles. Almost 2000 Australian soldiers were killed in action or died of wounds at the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916. Over 90 years later, 250 of these men were discovered […]

The literature of the Battle of Fromelles 1916 Speaker: Major General (Ret’d) Michael O’Brien CSC, MDA, BSc (Mil) Australia’s disastrous Battle of Fromelles has generated a large volume of literature over the last 100 years. It has caused a riotous assembly in Bendigo and accusations of a coverup. Mike will review the writings from his […]

During the Summer Olympics, the Sir John Monash Centre invites you to attend a presentation on Sunday 28 July 2024, dedicated to the history of Australian Olympic athletes who served in the First World War. In Australia during the First World War, a major campaign to enlist sportsmen was fuelled by the strong belief that […]

A Public Lecture by Noel Phelan. This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Operation Overlord was the greatest amphibious assault in history, a crucial turning point of World War II, and a miracle of planning, logistics, coordination and supply. In this detailed lecture, Noel […]

Mr. James Rosenberg, Chairman of The Spirit of Australia Foundation, invites you to the annual General Sir John Monash Commemorative Service, to be held Thursday 8th August 2024, at 9.45 am. Following the service, we will host a Morning Tea from 11:15am to Midday. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect, connect, and honour Sir […]

Annual Commemorative Event at Lemnos Square.   We have had many services over the years since the official unveiling in 2015. Many dignitaries from here and abroad have visited our Memorial and paid their respects, including the former Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros. He was present when then Councillor […]

4th Light Horse Regiment Memorial Association Including 4th Light Horse Regiment Association 1914 - 1919 In conjunction with the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment Association Inc. Sunday 11th August 2024 1.00pm for 1.30pm start At the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance, we will be holding an afternoon to commemorate 110 years since the 4th […]

Step back into history and witness a lively debate of the 1920s come to life. Our latest exhibition commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Shrine of Remembrance, offering a nostalgic experience that, for the first time, delves into the forgotten designs for Victoria's War Memorial. Explore the entries of the 1921 War Memorial design competition, […]

This unique photographic exhibition unites two distinct groups of men separated by a century, connected by conflict and the art of photo montage. The first group comprises the men of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who battled in Flanders during the Great War's most harrowing encounters. The second group consists of Belgian men engaged in […]

A wreath laying to honour all those who served in the Vietnam War. This service commemorates all those who served in the Vietnam War on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. On this day in 1966, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, Australian soldiers fought one of their fiercest […]

In this special National Family History Month webinar, learn how to navigate the Library’s extensive newspaper collection to research your family history. Whether you’re looking to debunk a family urban legend or find out if that aunt really cracked a world record, our librarians will teach you the tips and tricks you need to uncover […]

At first glance, the world of fashion and the gravity of military service may appear distant, even disparate. Yet, they share a tapestry of connections that reveal themselves in profound ways. Our latest exhibition explores the rich connections between the uniforms that once graced the battlefield and the iconic fashion staples we embrace today. Trenches […]