Queen Elizabeth II opened the Sydney Opera House in 1973. (Photo: Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images )
Australian monuments commemorate the nation's history and heritage, from the nation's precolonial era to the 20th century, and provide a means for travelers to gain a greater understanding of the people and events that shaped the nation. Travelers will find monuments throughout the country, from New South Wales to Brisbane. Australia hosts destinations that celebrate the explorers who charted the nation's untamed territory, commemorate the Australians who fought and died in battle and stand as triumphs of 20th-century architecture.
Brisbane's ANZAC Square (epa.qld.gov.au) is the site of the Shrine and Eternal Flame of Remembrance, a memorial commemorating Australians who perished in combat. The 18 Doric columns supporting the shrine's dome represent the year 1918, when World War I finally ended after claiming nearly 60,000 Australian lives. Statues within the square depict Australians in the nation's various armed forces throughout history. Queenslanders flock to the square on April 25 to commemorate ANZAC Day and pay tribute to the fallen. Story Bridge extends almost 1,500 feet over the Brisbane River's rushing waters, connecting Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point. John Job Drew Bradfield, who previously designed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, oversaw the bridge's construction from its commencement in 1935 to its completion in 1940. Adventurous travelers can book a guided bridge climb, during which their guide will relate the histories of Brisbane's development and Story Bridge's construction on the way to the summit.
Canberra's Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au) pays tribute to Australian forces serving throughout the country's history, from its Colonial-era conflicts through its 21st century participation in the war in Afghanistan. Its museum hosts rotating military history exhibits and the memorial's archive and research center provides scholars with an extensive library of military documents. Admission is free, and memorial staff provide 90-minute tours of the grounds from late morning to early afternoon.
The Burke & Wills Monument on the corner of Swanston and Collins streets, commemorating the first explorers to cross the continent from south to north. As leaders of the Victorian Exploring Expedition, they led their party forth from Melbourne's Royal Park in August 1860, coming just short of the shores of the Gulf of Carpentia in the north. Neither man could muster the endurance for the return journey and both died along the return route. The city of Melbourne erected the monument in 1865 to commemorate the pair's pioneering efforts. Cook's Cottage (thatsmelbourne.com.au) is the boyhood home of Captain James Cook, the mariner who became the first European to set foot in Australia in 1770. Sir Russell Grimwade purchased the Yorkshire cottage in 1933, reduced it to its component materials and shipped it from England to Melbourne. The cottage is furnished with period furniture and its Discovery Centre hosts exhibits and presentations celebrating Cook's career.
Sydney's City Council commissioned the Hyde Park Obelisk as a sewer vent to expunge noxious gasses from the city's sewer system. Its designers modeled it after Cleopatra's Needle in London, and it stands approximately 66 feet tall. After Mayor George Thornton unveiled the obelisk in 1857, many residents were amused with its purpose and informally renamed it "Thornton's Scent Bottle." The Sydney Opera House (sydneyoperahouse.com) rests alongside Sydney Cove, easily recognizable by the crescent-shaped structures adorning the building. Danish architect John Utzon designed the building, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site, recognizing it as a masterwork of 20th-century architecture. The venue hosts five performance stages, presenting a diverse selection of musical genres.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Brought to you by OnlyInYourState.com