Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial

The Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial (Seeds of Friendship) is a war memorial in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Kings Domain on Birdwood Avenue.[1][2] It was built to mark Anzac Day's centennial anniversary and as a tribute to Australian-Turkish relations.[1][2][3]

Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial
(Seeds of Friendship)
Location of Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial in Australia
Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial (Australia)
Coordinates37.828318°S 144.973953°E / -37.828318; 144.973953
LocationKings Domain on Birdwood Ave, Melbourne
DesignerMatthew Harding
MaterialStainless steel, granite, copper, bluestone pebble
Height3.8 m
Websitehttps://atfms.org.au/

The sculpture is a filigreed wreath shaped as a crescent made from interwoven marine-grade stainless steel.[1][2][3] Its woven steel strands honours the soldiers who died in the conflict and remembrance poppies can be placed onto the filigreed structure.[2][3] In front of the wreath are two seed pods based on the Australian casuarina and Turkish pinecone, hand carved from light-coloured granite and symbolising the future and friendship.[1][2][3] The "pine needles" are copper etched and contain engraved quotes from troops and their families.[3] The platform has a mosaic made from bluestone pebble.[3] The monument has a height of 3.8 metres and around its base are words from Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk regarding reconciliation.[1][2]

In 2014, the monument was commissioned by the Victorian RSL's Turkish Sub-branch and Matthew Harding, a sculptor designed and was tasked with its construction.[1][2][3] Funding for the project came from Australian state and federal sources.[1][2][3] Harding stated that the monument represented "the most poignant and most powerful part of remembrance services – the laying to rest of the fallen and the placing of the wreath".[2] The memorial was opened officially on 13 April 2015 for the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day.

References
  1. Masanauskas, John (30 November 2019). "Sculpture featuring giant pine cone proposed for Melbourne park as Gallipoli commemoration". Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. Rainforth, Dylan (11 November 2014). "Trentham sculptor Matthew Harding wins $300,000 Anzac commission". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. "Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial (Seeds of Friendship)". City of Melbourne. 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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