the design competition
The memorial design was selected by a limited design competition run by the NSW Government Architect’s Office.
The design objectives as stated in the competition brief are:
This memorial is dedicated to the Australian Korean War effort.
It is to commemorate the camaraderie of Australians and South Koreans: the soldiers who fought side by side, the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives, and today the communities bound together by this conflict.
It is to be a memorial that honours a friendship forged through war, between two different countries, cultures and communities. A place that remembers the war with dignity, without guns or aggression, and in so doing honours the hope of future peace.
It is to be a place of significance; a place that brings people together for ceremonies and cross-cultural celebrations, but also remains accessible to its current users. It should be a memorial that is interpreted and identifiable, yet is also open to interpretation and future meaning.
Finally it is to be a memorial that is unique to this site and that responds to the conditions of a war memorial of this time in this place.
Due to the heritage significance and landscape sensitivity of the memorial site expressions of interest were sought from appropriate artists in collaboration with landscape architects. Submissions were received from nine artist teams and five were selected to enter the competition.
The artist teams were:
- Jane Cavanough (Artlandish Art and Design) with Pod Landscape Architecture
- Merilyn Fairskye with Anton James
- Anne Graham with Vladmir Sitta
- Paul Selwood with Jane Irwin Landscape Architects
- Michael Snape with Craig Burton.
The competition commenced on the 17 September 2007 and closed on 8 October 2007.
The competition was judged by the Project Control Group of the Australian and Korean War Memorial Committee, who recommended an award winner to the Committee at its meeting on the 18 October 2007. The jury’s recommendation met unanimous support and the Committee proceeded to award a winner.
The winner was then ratified by the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust on 30 October 2007.