National Police Memorial Australia

Australia's National Police Memorial is in the national capital, Canberra, in King's Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin adjacent to the National Carillon on Aspen Island. It commemorates Australian police who have died on duty.

The two key elements of the design are:

The surface of the touchstone wall is clad in cast bronze panels with a slight textural feel and a dark patina. The surface of the cladding is smooth enough to allow the patina to have a gloss wax finish. The touchstones are also cast bronze but have a golden, almost polished patina, that will change over time with the degree to which each stone is touched. There are 1200 touchstones, which is meant to symbolise the ongoing danger for police on duty.

The 'terrain' tilts to direct visitors to the wall, with undulations that is intended to create "an uncertainty in experience and reflects the uncertain path that police tread in the performance of their duty."

The design also incorporates elements acknowledging Saint Michael, the patron saint of policing.

Access roads have been constructed from King's Avenue, joining to the previous the lakeside road.

A competition for the design was sponsored by the Australasian Police Ministers' Council (APMC), launched on 2 March 2005 by Senator Christopher Ellison, the Federal Minister for Justice and Customs. 77 entries were submitted by its close on 29 April 2005.

The memorial cost A$2.4 million.

The winning entry was by Fairweather Proberts Architects (Brisbane).

The Australian Federal Police Recognition and Ceremonial Team were given the honour in managing the Dedication Project.

The Memorial was officially dedicated by Hon. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, on 29 September 2006, National Police Remembrance Day.

The Master of Ceremonies was Ita Buttrose.

...
Wikipedia