Why we're doing it
Because of its age and condition, the cenotaph requires repairs and updating to continue supporting commemorative services run by the Hawthorn RSL. Their members are working closely with us on the restoration.
The cenotaph honours those who have served in the Second World War, Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam Wars. The restoration will be updated to include more recent conflicts where Australian forces served, including:
- Cambodia 1991–1993
- Somalia 1992–1993
- Rwanda 1993–1996
- East Timor 1999–2013
- Afghanistan 2001–2021
- Iraq 2003–2020
This work is also part of the St James Park Master Plan and funded through the 2024–25 Council Budget, with support from the Victorian and Australian Governments.
Status
Restoration works are expected to start in early September 2025 and be completed by early 2026.
How you may be impacted
- St James Park will stay open during this time.
- The cenotaph and the surrounding work area will be blocked off to the public.
- You may hear construction noise on weekdays between 7 am and 3 pm, and some Saturdays (excluding public holidays).
- 3 parking spaces on Denham Street will be used by the builder’s vehicles.
Timeline
This project will be delivered in stages:
| Stage | Time | Information | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 - Investigation, planning and design | July 2024 | Specialist consultants inspected the cenotaph and developed a condition report. This report guided what work needs to be carried out to renew and repair the cenotaph. | Complete |
| Stage 2 - Cenotaph works start | Early September 2025 to early 2026 | Works will include:
| Pending |
| Stage 3 - Flagpole installation | Early 2026 | We're installing 3 flagpoles near the cenotaph to support commemorative services. These will fly the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on significant dates. | Pending |
More information
To stay up to date about this project and others being delivered from the master plan, visit our St James Park master plan consultation page.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact our Civil Projects team on (03) 9278 4444 or at [email protected]