National War Memorial

The National War Memorial was unveiled on ANZAC Day in 1931 by Governor Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven in front of a crowd of about 75,000 people.  The memorial was built to honour South Australians who served and sacrificed their lives in the First World War. Over the years, it has become a central place of remembrance, where people gather for commemorative services such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day to reflect on all South Australians who have died in service overseas.

Designed by the firm Woods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne Smith, with sculptural work designed by George Rayner Hoff, the National War Memorial was built using local materials and skilled South Australian craftsmanship. Its base is made from grey granite, while the main arch and inner walls are finished with marble figures from Angaston marble. The marble angels were also carved from white Barossa (Angaston) marble. The bronze figures, created by Dobbie & Co. foundry, were the first sculptures of their kind to be cast in South Australia.

The image below is the National War Memorial Unveiling, 1931 [B 5909], State Library of South Australia

The design of the War Memorial was composed to resemble the obverse and reverse of a coin, ‘the before and the after, the active and the passive, the prologue and the epilogue of war.’  The south-eastern side of the memorial features the ‘Angel of Duty’. On the opposite side, the ‘Angel of Compassion’ holds a sheathed sword and cradles the body of a fallen soldier, standing above the Fountain of Compassion. Inside the memorial, the record room contains honour rolls listing the names of more than 5,500 South Australians who lost their lives in the war.
The National War Memorial is located on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide.

Virtual War Memorial, Adelaide.

Experience Adelaide: The South Australian National War Memorial.