Celebrate the Anzac Memorial's 90th Anniversary with special events, exhibitions, and lectures.
On 24 November 2024, the Anzac Memorial will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of its opening.
In 1934, more than 100,000 people assembled in Hyde Park to witness the official opening of the Memorial. Prior to the ceremony, a procession of over 20,000 returned servicemen marched from the Domain to Hyde Park wearing their war medals with pride.
The opening ceremony was solemn and simple and featured a short speech by H.R.H. Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester from the western terrace in which he praised the sacrifice of the men and women who had died during the war. The Archbishop of Sydney offered the prayer of dedication and after the Last Post was played, silence descended upon the park for a minute of private contemplation. The soaring sound of the Reveille and a resonant rendition of God Save the King concluded the day’s formalities.
Special events, exhibitions, and lectures will be held throughout 2024 to celebrate this occasion.
View the events via the dropdown menu below.
View the schedule
Events
8 March | International Women's Day
4 April | RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration
25 April | Anzac Day
31 May | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Servicewomen Commemoration Service
19 July | Battle of Fromelles Commemoration
19 October | War Widows Day
3 November | Sydney Open
24 November | Anzac Memorial's 90th Anniversary Ceremony & Open Day
Exhibitions
Permanent exhibition | All year
Explore the evolution of Australian military service through the personal stories of NSW service men and women.
Photography exhibition: Stories of the Dat Do Dogs | Now available to view digitally >
Portraits and words of veterans of the Vietnam War, featuring the photography of Jack McLain.
Serving the White Ensign: 110 years of the Australian Fleet | Until October
Temporary exhibition on the history of the Royal Australian Navy.
HERstory: Remembering Australia’s Military Women | Now available to view digitally >
A photographic exhibition and digital stories acknowledging women's service.
RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Exhibition | 4 April to 30 April
A showcase of the finalist’s artwork in the 2024 RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art competition.
90 Treasures | From November
Showcasing highlights of the Memorial and its collections, including a book launch and signings.
Lectures
Anzac Memorial
7 May | In That Rich Earth, presented by the Memorial's Senior Historian and Curator Brad Manera. Register now >
Military History Society of NSW
3 February | Chaplains in WW1: Padre "Fighting Mac" McKenzie. Watch the recording >
2 March | Operation Oboe: Australian Amphibious Landings in Borneo, May-July 1945. Watch the recording >
6 April | Beyond the 'Kantai Kessen': Japan's Fateful Defeat in the Southwest Pacific. Watch the recording >
4 May | Battle for Beersheba & Ottoman III Corps. Register now >
1 June | Patron's Annual Lecture
6 July | Armidale in WW1
3 August | RAN topic
7 September | US Civil War - The Peninsula Campaign
5 October | Battle of Anzio
2 November | "Don't Mention the War", Fighting the French - Syria 1941
7 December | TBA
The Royal United Services Institute of NSW
More information on RUSI's events is available here.
30 January | Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey. Watch the recording >
27 February | Defence Strategic Review - The Strategic Implications. Speaker: Associate Professor Adam Lockyer, Security Studies & Criminology, Macquarie University. Watch the recording >
26 March | Thales Group - Undersea Systems. Speaker: Gavin Henry, Business Development Manager.
30 April | The Defence Strategic Review; One Year On. Speaker: Professor Peter Dean - USSC. Register now >
28 May | The Rules of War. Speaker: Mr James Gaynor CSC, Inspector General, Australian Defence Force.
25 June | The Ukrainian Conflict. Speaker: HE The Ukrainian Ambassador Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
Australia News South Wales branch of The Western Front Association
20 April, 10.30am to 3.00pm | Anzac Day Seminar
Location: The Auditorium of the Anzac Memorial, Saturday 20 April 2024. Arrival from 10.15am for a 10.30am start.
Programme:
10.30am: Welcome and introductions.
10.45am: Historian and author Ross McMullin, 'Life so full of promise: biographies of Australia's lost generation in WW1'.
11.45am: Lunch break
12.45pm: Researcher Margaret Hammond, 'Three Australian nurses of the Great War'. Margaret will speak on her volunteer research into Australian nurses at Lemnos.
1.45pm: Cheryl Ward and Bernard deBroglio, 'Lemnos photographs, then and now 1915 and 2011'.
RSVP before 18 April for part or all of the event to wfaaustraliabranch@gmail.com.
Tours
Led by one of our knowledgeable guides, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the history and symbolism behind the Memorial, including the Memorial’s architectural design that dates back to the 1930s and the more recent award-winning Centenary Extension that commemorates over 100 years of service.
Free Highlights tours are weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tours for groups of 10 or more are available upon request.
There are also special free guided tours on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
Twilight Tours will be launched in 2024.
Retail
Visit the Anzac Memorial shop to purchase a wide range of items for all ages including jewellery, books, homewares, scarves and more. A unique 90th Anniversary product will be launched in 2024.
View the full range of products via the Memorial's Online Shop.
Events
8 March | International Women's Day
4 April | RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration
25 April | Anzac Day
31 May | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Servicewomen Commemoration Service
19 July | Battle of Fromelles Commemoration
19 October | War Widows Day
3 November | Sydney Open
24 November | Anzac Memorial's 90th Anniversary Ceremony & Open Day
Exhibitions
Permanent exhibition | All year
Explore the evolution of Australian military service through the personal stories of NSW service men and women.
Photography exhibition: Stories of the Dat Do Dogs | Now available to view digitally >
Portraits and words of veterans of the Vietnam War, featuring the photography of Jack McLain.
Serving the White Ensign: 110 years of the Australian Fleet | Until October
Temporary exhibition on the history of the Royal Australian Navy.
HERstory: Remembering Australia’s Military Women | Now available to view digitally >
A photographic exhibition and digital stories acknowledging women's service.
RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Exhibition | 4 April to 30 April
A showcase of the finalist’s artwork in the 2024 RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art competition.
90 Treasures | From November
Showcasing highlights of the Memorial and its collections, including a book launch and signings.
Lectures
Anzac Memorial
7 May | In That Rich Earth, presented by the Memorial's Senior Historian and Curator Brad Manera. Register now >
Military History Society of NSW
3 February | Chaplains in WW1: Padre "Fighting Mac" McKenzie. Watch the recording >
2 March | Operation Oboe: Australian Amphibious Landings in Borneo, May-July 1945. Watch the recording >
6 April | Beyond the 'Kantai Kessen': Japan's Fateful Defeat in the Southwest Pacific. Watch the recording >
4 May | Battle for Beersheba & Ottoman III Corps. Register now >
1 June | Patron's Annual Lecture
6 July | Armidale in WW1
3 August | RAN topic
7 September | US Civil War - The Peninsula Campaign
5 October | Battle of Anzio
2 November | "Don't Mention the War", Fighting the French - Syria 1941
7 December | TBA
The Royal United Services Institute of NSW
More information on RUSI's events is available here.
30 January | Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey. Watch the recording >
27 February | Defence Strategic Review - The Strategic Implications. Speaker: Associate Professor Adam Lockyer, Security Studies & Criminology, Macquarie University. Watch the recording >
26 March | Thales Group - Undersea Systems. Speaker: Gavin Henry, Business Development Manager.
30 April | The Defence Strategic Review; One Year On. Speaker: Professor Peter Dean - USSC. Register now >
28 May | The Rules of War. Speaker: Mr James Gaynor CSC, Inspector General, Australian Defence Force.
25 June | The Ukrainian Conflict. Speaker: HE The Ukrainian Ambassador Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
Australia News South Wales branch of The Western Front Association
20 April, 10.30am to 3.00pm | Anzac Day Seminar
Location: The Auditorium of the Anzac Memorial, Saturday 20 April 2024. Arrival from 10.15am for a 10.30am start.
Programme:
10.30am: Welcome and introductions.
10.45am: Historian and author Ross McMullin, 'Life so full of promise: biographies of Australia's lost generation in WW1'.
11.45am: Lunch break
12.45pm: Researcher Margaret Hammond, 'Three Australian nurses of the Great War'. Margaret will speak on her volunteer research into Australian nurses at Lemnos.
1.45pm: Cheryl Ward and Bernard deBroglio, 'Lemnos photographs, then and now 1915 and 2011'.
RSVP before 18 April for part or all of the event to wfaaustraliabranch@gmail.com.
Tours
Led by one of our knowledgeable guides, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the history and symbolism behind the Memorial, including the Memorial’s architectural design that dates back to the 1930s and the more recent award-winning Centenary Extension that commemorates over 100 years of service.
Free Highlights tours are weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tours for groups of 10 or more are available upon request.
There are also special free guided tours on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
Twilight Tours will be launched in 2024.
Retail
Visit the Anzac Memorial shop to purchase a wide range of items for all ages including jewellery, books, homewares, scarves and more. A unique 90th Anniversary product will be launched in 2024.
View the full range of products via the Memorial's Online Shop.
