The Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is more than a monument. It is a covenant. Built after the Great War, it was raised as a living altar to those who served and suffered, a place where silence could hold memory, where stone could carry grief, and where generations could gather to honour the sacrifice of the ANZACs.
Yet today, as Constitution Watch reports, the Shrine stands in a state of neglect. Crumbling masonry, worn inscriptions, and overlooked maintenance speak not only to failing upkeep, but to a deeper dishonour. This is not just neglect of a building — it is neglect of the covenant itself.
The Sacred Geometry of Memory
In my own pilgrimage to the Shrine, I reflected on its placement, its architecture, and its resonance with both sacred geometry and the songlines of this land. The Shrine is not merely a war memorial. It is a vessel, akin to the Ark of the Covenant: a structure built to hold collective memory, to align heaven and earth, and to bind us to the truth of sacrifice.
Standing before it, one feels both the weight and the call — a reminder that sacred spaces demand reverence. They are not ours to desecrate through neglect or indifference.
The Legal Duty of Care
Responsibility for the Shrine’s upkeep lies not in vague promises but in clear law. Under the Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978 (Vic), the Shrine Trustees — a statutory body — are legally bound to ensure the “care, management, maintenance and preservation” of the Shrine and its surrounding land.
This duty is not symbolic. It is enshrined in legislation.
And yet, the current condition of the Shrine tells a different story. Crumbling stone, neglected grounds, fading inscriptions — these do not speak of care, management, or preservation. They speak of neglect. They speak of a failure to fulfil a legal and moral covenant.
Despite their statutory obligations, the Trustees have made no public statements acknowledging the Shrine’s deteriorating state. No urgent plan has been released, no call for restoration put forward. Annual reports may list financial figures and ceremonial highlights, but they provide little reassurance that the very foundation of their duty — maintenance and preservation — is being met.
The silence of the Trustees is louder than words. For to ignore the state of the Shrine is to ignore the law itself, and worse, to ignore the sacred duty of remembrance owed to those who served.
Government Responsibility
Legal experts have pointed out that if the Trustees are failing to meet their obligations, the Victorian Government has a clear mandate to intervene. If necessary, the government can investigate, replace, or restructure the governing body.
“This is not just a failure of aesthetics, it’s a failure of public trust,” said one administrative law lecturer familiar with statutory governance in Victoria.
Adding to the seriousness of the situation is the Shrine’s heritage status. The building and its grounds are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, which means neglect could also put the Trustees at odds with the Heritage Act 2017 (Vic). Regulatory action from Heritage Victoria could follow if the site is allowed to further deteriorate.
A Betrayal of Memory
The growing frustration isn’t limited to the legal or political sphere. The Shrine holds deep emotional significance for countless families, veterans, and school children who visit every year. To allow it to slip into such a state is not just an administrative failure — it’s a betrayal of public expectation and national values.
As one elderly visitor said while laying a wreath:
“You can’t claim to honour the fallen while letting the place meant to remember them fall apart.”
The phrase “Lest We Forget” is not just carved in stone. It is etched into our national conscience. To allow the Shrine of Remembrance to fall into visible neglect is not only forgetting — it is forsaking the very values the site was built to preserve.
A Call to Action
The neglect of the Shrine is not inevitable. It is a choice — and it can be reversed. But only if we, the people, step forward to demand accountability.
Here’s what you can do:
- Raise Your Voice: Write to the Shrine Trustees and the Victorian Government, demanding an immediate plan for restoration and maintenance. Silence enables neglect.
- Engage Your Community: Share photographs, stories, and experiences of the Shrine, reminding others of its sacred role. Collective memory keeps the covenant alive.
- Hold Trustees Accountable: Ask for transparency — annual reports must include not just ceremony but stewardship. Demand to know how funds are being used, and why essential upkeep is being delayed.
- Protect Heritage: Contact Heritage Victoria and inquire about enforcement of the Heritage Act 2017 (Vic). Heritage protection exists for this very reason.
- Support Veterans’ Voices: Stand with veterans, their families, and school communities who honour the Shrine through their presence. Amplify their call for dignity and respect.
This is not a political issue. It is not a funding dispute. It is a matter of duty, dignity, and respect.
If the Trustees cannot or will not uphold their legal and moral obligations, then they must step aside and allow others to take their place. The words carved into the stone demand no less:
“Lest We Forget.”
To forget is human.
To neglect is unforgivable.
To restore is our duty.
Suggested Template Letter
To: Shrine Trustees / Victorian Government / Heritage Victoria
Subject: Urgent Action Required – Neglect of the Shrine of Remembrance
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to express my deep concern about the deteriorating condition of the Shrine of Remembrance.
As you are aware, under the Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978 (Vic), the Trustees have a statutory obligation to ensure the “care, management, maintenance and preservation” of the Shrine and its grounds. The current state of disrepair — including [insert visible issues: crumbling stone, fading inscriptions, neglected grounds] — suggests that this duty is not being fulfilled.
In addition, the Shrine’s listing on the Victorian Heritage Register means that neglect may also constitute a breach of the Heritage Act 2017 (Vic), which requires the protection and preservation of heritage places of state significance.
The Shrine is not only a legal responsibility — it is a sacred duty. It represents the covenant of remembrance between our nation and those who served. To allow it to fall into neglect is a betrayal of public trust, of veterans, and of the values embodied in the words: “Lest We Forget.”
I therefore call for:
- Immediate public acknowledgement of the Shrine’s deteriorating condition.
- A clear and transparent plan for urgent repairs and long-term maintenance.
- Accountability from the Trustees to demonstrate how funds are being allocated toward preservation.
- Government intervention if the Trustees are unwilling or unable to fulfil their statutory duty.
This is not a political issue. It is not a funding dispute. It is a matter of duty, dignity, and respect.
I urge you to act now to restore the Shrine of Remembrance to the condition worthy of those it honours, and to ensure that future generations inherit a place of reverence, not ruin.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Details]
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