Contracts signed for $550m Australian War Memorial revamp

The Australian War Memorial’s development project is set to begin in a matter of weeks, with the renovation to be completed by 2028.

The Australian War Memorial’s $550 million development project will soon begin. Pictured: An artist’s impression of the war memorial’s new roof.

The Australian War Memorial’s $550m development project is set to begin in a matter of weeks ­following the signing of contracts with the last of three main ­construction partners, clearing the way for the renovation to be completed by 2028.

Lendlease, Kane Constructions and Hindmarsh were selected to proceed with the three separate works packages and inked official agreements with the AWM this week.

“This is an exciting milestone for everyone working on the ­development as it will allow the contractors to bring each of the three stages into reality,” AWM director Matt Anderson said.

Canberra-based construction company Kane Constructions will manage the AWM’s Southern Entry, while Hindmarsh was handed responsibility for the CEW Bean Building extension and Lendlease given the job of constructing the new Anzac Hall.

An artist’s impression of the front of the redeveloped war memorial.

The CEW Bean Building was named after the official war ­correspondent and driving force behind the creation of the AWM in ­Canberra, Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean.

“Charles Bean wanted to create a memorial, an archive and a museum, and the building works embody this vision,” Mr Anderson said.

“In a fitting finish, the roof of the new Anzac Hall takes its inspiration from the iconic Australian rising sun badge.”

Lendlease will also be responsible for delivering the glazed link with a translucent roof connecting the heritage building and new Anzac Hall, providing more than 7000sq m of new ­exhibition space.

Cranes are expected to be onsite by next week, with the Southern Entrance to be completed by 2024 and the whole project to be finished within the next six years.

The milestone comes amid controversy over the memorial’s announcement that it would include greater recognition of the “frontier wars” in its galleries, in reference to massacres of Indigenous Australians during colonisation.

Opposition veterans’ affairs spokesman Barnaby Joyce has been lobbying the AWM against the move and confirmed he had met with representatives as recently as November 11. “The sentiment from the public is that they don’t want this in the Australian War Memorial,” Mr Joyce said.

The concept design of the atrium in the war memorial.

“It’s not that they don’t agree that there were massacres and acknowledge they are a blight and disgrace, there are just vastly more appropriate places for that to be (displayed).”

Under questioning from Nationals senator Matt Canavan at senate estimates, Mr Anderson said the AWM hadn’t sought legal advice on whether displaying ­materials from the frontier wars was a breach of its Act, which laid out the original intent of the ­memorial, since 2013.