From darkness to light: Conference with Architect Tim Williams

On the 26th of April this year, the Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, announced that there would be an opening, on Anzac Day 2018, of an Interpretation Centre on the site of the Australian National Memorial at Villers Bretonneux in France. It will be exactly 100 years since the 2nd Battle of Villers Bretonneux when Australian troops recaptured the town. The centre is named in honour of the Australian General Sir Monash whose leadership and innovation accelerated the end of the war.

In 2014, The Department of Veteran's Affairs conducted an architectural competition for a new interpretation Centre. Tim Williams, one of the winning architects, will talk about the process of arriving at the final design and will explore the continuity and contradictions of contemporary commemoration. Tim will reflect on the triumph and tragedy of the Australian contribution to the allied effort on the Western Front and on the shared significance to both Australia and
France.