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Shrine of Remembrance LbNA #13006 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jan 9, 2005
Location:
City:Melbourne, Australia
County:Other International
State:Other International
Boxes:1
Found by: RetiredHavinFun
Last found:Feb 9, 2005
Status:Fr
Last edited:Jan 9, 2005
Background:
The Shrine of Remembrance sits nestled against the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, and is Victoria’s largest war memorial. It was built between 1928 and 1934 to honour the 114,000 men and women of Victoria who served in the Great War of 1914-1918. Although the country was suffering economically at the time, the Great Depression actually assisted the Shrine's progress, because large numbers of unemployed men (many of them veterans) were hired at sustenance wages to work on the project as a form of unemployment relief.

To select the design for the Shrine, Victoria held a competition among Australian architects and artists. The winning entry was submitted by two Melbourne architects, both who happened to be ex-servicemen. Drawing on classical architecture, the men based their creation on the ancient Tomb of Mausolus (the Mausoleum), one of the Wonders of the World.

A special feature in the interior of the Shrine is the Ray of Light. And thanks to the combined efforts of an astronomer, a mathematician and a surveyor, the Ray of Light falls on the word 'LOVE' inscribed on the Stone of Remembrance at 11am on the 11th of November- the time and date of the Armistice.

Since then, this poignant monument has continued to evolve, with other memorials added to the site to mark the service of successive generations.

Clue:
To find this letterbox, begin by standing at the bottom of the steps that lead up to the entrance of the Shrine. Place yourself directly in the middle, so that the Eternal Flame is on your left at about 10:30. The great concrete expanse of the Forecourt (which was originally a reflecting pool) will lay before you, with views down St Kilda Road to the city’s centre.

Three proud flags should be flying to your right, at about 1:30. Go to the centre flagpole and face the statue of a solider with his arms spread out. Walk from the flagpole towards the statue until you see a large gum tree with the plaque ‘The 39th Battalion’ to your left. Stop walking when this gum tree aligns with a similar gum in the background. Walk over to the second gum in the background. Its plaque should read ‘The 6th Battalion’.

Tucked behind this gum is a golden cypress representing Pakistan. Walk around to the other side of the tree until the Shrine is framed by a “V” in the branches on the right side of the tree.

Here you will see a crevasse at the base of the “V” in the tree. The letterbox is well buried in this hole, so you might have to dig a bit past the debris and dirt. Please take care when uncovering this box because of the heavy foot traffic, and to cover well after discovery (this area is full of very curious kids).

Thanks and we hope you enjoy!
KW and Noles