The Australian War Memorial today reopened to the public after three months with a new temporary main entrance.

The Memorial closed at the start of the ACT’s lockdown on 12 August and, in the interim, began heavy construction work and landscaping at the front of the Memorial due to be complete by 2024.

This work has facilitated the new entrance located on the eastern side of the main building opposite Poppy’s café.

This will be the main visitor entry point for the next three years as works continue on the Memorial’s development project.

The controversial $500 million project, which includes the high-profile demolition and rebuild of the 20-year-old Anzac Hall and the removal of 116 trees from the site, has been met with protests and widespread disdain by conservation groups, architects, and the wider community.

The National Capital Authority approved early works for the Anzac Hall project, which included the demolition of the hall, in June 2021.

Visitors from today will be required to book free, timed tickets to enter the Memorial galleries, or to attend the daily Last Post Ceremony in the Commemorative Area.

Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson described the reopening as a “wonderful” occasion.

“We’re here to give people the opportunity to come and honour the fallen but also understand a bit about Australia’s military history,” he said.

“You can do some of that online, and we’ve all learned to do that with the digital pivot during COVID, but there’s still nothing like coming through the front doors to pay your respects.”

Access to the Conflicts 1945 to Today galleries is facilitated from 10am to 1pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays or, where possible, on request.

Visitor parking is available beside Poppy’s Café, marked as P1 on the Memorial map.

Click here for more information and ticket bookings.

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