War Memorial

Not personally a fan of the sterilised feel of Canberra’s layout, this is one time it works: from the huge flag at the top of the Australian Parliament House, down the hill though the old Parliament House and across the lake to Anzac Parade and up to the entrance of the Australian War Memorial is an obvious straight line created by architecture and road layouts. It’s certainly a nice and impressive touch that lends an extra something to the austerity of the Anzac Day parade and services.

The good news for children is that around the side are some tank shells you can climb on and a statue of Simpson and his donkey which was one of the first stories I learned about Australia’s military history (Simpson was a young medic and stretcher bearer who found a donkey and used it to carry injured men down the winding cliff face that was the only line the Anzac forces occupied at Gallipoli. He is personally responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of men and for helping to create the Anzac legend that was begun at Gallipoli. Simpson lasted 24 days completing 12 to 15 trips a day from the front to the dressing stations before being killed by sniper fire.)