A major expansion of the Australian War Memorial was approved after a review warned that wide-reaching and permanent changes would diminish and obscure the building’s heritage values, and could damage protected views from Parliament House across Canberra’s central triangle.

The $500 million expansion was approved in December, despite officials warning the size of new areas for exhibitions, visitor services and functions would reduce the significance of the iconic 1940s stone building and pull the memorial’s focus away from commemoration.