Anzac Memorial, also known as the Anzac War Memorial, was originally built in memory of the men and women from New South Wales, Australia, who served in World War I (1914-1918). The memorial stands 100 feet (30 meters) high near the southern end of Hyde Park, in Sydney. The interior is a circular domed hall. Stars carved on the inside of the dome represent men and women who served in World War I. The Lake of Reflection, lined with poplar trees, is outside.
C. Bruce Dellit, a Sydney architect, designed the memorial in the geometrical Art Deco style. It incorporates many sculptures by Rayner Hoff, a British-born artist who served in France as a soldier during World War I and who died in 1937. The central sculpture, The Sacrifice, shows a fallen warrior supported on a shield by three women, one of whom holds a child.
Construction of the memorial began in 1931 and was completed in 1934. The exterior of the building was restored in 1979. In 1984, on the 50th anniversary of its dedication, the memorial was rededicated to all Australians who serve their country in war. An ongoing photography exhibit documents the wars in which Australians have taken part since 1885. The exhibit also highlights the history and architecture of the memorial.
