RSL Australia Calls for Hobart Cenotaph Protection from Stadium Threat

Media release – Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL), 25 July 2024

RSL Australia calls for Hobart Cenotaph protection

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the Hobart Cenotaph is a sacred site for Defence veterans, their families and for all Tasmanians and its heritage values, cultural and spiritual significance must be respected and protected for all time.

The RSL says the Hobart Cenotaph is the nation’s oldest state capital city War Memorial and the national League supports the introduction of Tasmanian legislation similar to that applying in other states, to protect its sanctity and heritage.

The nation’s largest ex-service organisation has reiterated concerns expressed by RSL Tasmania and believes the impact of the proposed AFL Stadium 1.0 is contrary to the proper protection of the Cenotaph’s values.

The RSL is fully and strongly supportive of Tasmania having teams in the national AFL men’s and women’s competitions, but this should not and cannot impact the sacred values of the Cenotaph.

RSL Australia Deputy President Duncan Anderson said the Hobart Cenotaph has historic, cultural and spiritual significance to Tasmanians, and the sacred site must be protected.

“The Cenotaph is Tasmania’s main war memorial and has been the site of commemoration services since 1919. Next year, it will celebrate the centenary of its completion in 1925,” Duncan Anderson said.

“It is a prominent Hobart landmark commanding important sightlines across Hobart and is listed on the Tasmanian heritage Register.

“Undoubtedly, it is of great historic heritage significance, marking the service and sacrifice of Tasmanians in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world over more than a century.

“It was purposely sited to command important sightlines across the city and down the Derwent River and many of these would be destroyed and the Cenotaph dwarfed by Stadium 1.0.”

Duncan Anderson said the heritage of the site dated back to Tasmania’s earliest colonial times. It was the location of the Queen’s Battery constructed in in the early to mid-1800s for Hobart’s protection, and a first Anzac Day service was held there in 1916, just one year after the Gallipoli landings.

“As custodians of this sacred site, RSL Australia and its State Branch cannot stand by and allow the Cenotaph to be impacted in this way,” he said.

“RSL Australia encourages the Government to consult with RSL Tasmania and stands ready to work with the Parliament to develop appropriate legislation to protect Tasmania’s sacred monument to our war veterans and service personnel.”

Media release – Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, 25 July 2024

STADIUM DESIGN IS A BLIGHT ON OUR HERITAGE

Ever since Macquarie Point was selected as the site for a new stadium, the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue group (FOSMA) has raised concerns about the adverse impact such a large structure will have on the Cenotaph and the cultural heritage precinct that surrounds it on the Queens Domain.

FOSMA is appalled with the release of concept illustrations three weeks ago showing the height of the stadium roof is now set at 54 metres far exceeding statements made by the Premier over the past year that the roof would be no more than 40 metres.

‘This design is an affront to everything the Cenotaph represents – service, sacrifice, reverence and commemoration,’ said John Wadsley, President of FOSMA. ‘In discussions with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation earlier this year, we were assured that the design would take the sensitive nature of the Cenotaph as a place of remembrance into account. They informed us, and I quote, that “… any visual impacts should be sensitive, softened, sympathetic and minimised.”

How can anyone consider this design to be sensitive? This will blight the Cenotaph precinct forever.’

‘The Cenotaph is not just a physical memorial. It represents sacred ground where the community sought to create a place of respect and reverence for what Tasmanian men and women have done during war and times of conflict. All Tasmanian families have been touched by war in one way or another – we all have stories that connect us to tumultuous times. So the Cenotaph represents all of us. We cannot allow this overbearing, disrespectful structure to be constructed in a place where it will dominate and destroy our most important memorial landscape,’ said Mr Wadsley.

The Hobart Cenotaph was the first state war memorial to be built in Australia, and the centenary of its construction will be in December 2025. It looks out over Sullivans Cove where the First Tasmanian Contingent departed for Egypt and later Gallipoli in October 1914. Its prominent location was specifically chosen to be visible from all points around Hobart and the Derwent.

The Soldiers Memorial Avenue, first planted out in August 1918 and February 1919 with 520 trees, was eventually linked to the Cenotaph by the planting of more trees in an extension. Two of the trees in that extension remain, immediately adjacent to the Cenotaph. The Hobart Cenotaph precinct and the Soldiers Memorial Avenue are both listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, indicating they must be protected as culturally significant heritage places. FOSMA has been actively involved in the Avenue’s restoration and protection for over 23 years.

‘What we see proposed now is a structure that is not sympathetic in any way to the heritage sites around it. FOSMA supports the RSL’s position and other groups opposed to a stadium at Macquarie Point.

FOSMA will be writing to all Members of Parliament seeking real action to protect the Cenotaph precinct. For it is only if we protect our heritage places, that we can learn from history for our future.’