Construction has officially begun on a new memorial in central Sydney dedicated to contemporary Australian veterans and the families who have supported them.
The NSW Veterans and Families Memorial is being built in The Domain, on land associated with Sydney’s first Anzac Day service in 1916.
The project is expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2026, providing a permanent place for remembrance, reflection and connection within one of Sydney’s most significant civic landscapes.
Memorial enters construction phase
The NSW Government has appointed Robert Plumb Build to construct the memorial, marking the project’s transition from consultation and design into physical delivery.
The construction cost is budgeted at $1.4 million.
The government previously committed $2 million to the broader memorial project, which has included consultation, design development and construction planning.
The latest announcement confirms that work is now underway rather than merely proposed or awaiting a builder.
Recognising service from 1990 onwards
The memorial will acknowledge members of the Australian Defence Force who have served from 1990 to the present day, as well as their families.
This includes personnel involved in Rwanda, East Timor and the Middle East Area of Operations, including Iraq and Australia’s two-decade involvement in Afghanistan.
Recognition will not be restricted to veterans who deployed overseas. The memorial is intended to include all personnel who served during the period and the families affected by military service.
The NSW Government says the site will provide a dedicated place to acknowledge the experiences of contemporary veterans, whose service is not always represented in older war memorials.
Circular design symbolises protection and connection
The memorial was designed by award-winning Sydney architect Billy Maynard following a limited architectural competition.
Its central form consists of a circle created by two surrounding crescents.
The design is intended to symbolise gathering, protection and the enduring bonds created through military service.
Rather than presenting a large monumental structure, the memorial will be integrated into The Domain’s landscape as a quiet, accessible space.
Seating, artwork, planting and the surrounding ground plane will form part of a single contemplative environment.
Artist Khadim Ali and landscape architect Sue Barnsley have also contributed to the design team.
Ali’s involvement creates a symbolic connection between the Sydney memorial and some of the distant landscapes in which Australian personnel have served.
Site chosen for its commemorative history
The memorial will be located south of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and near the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance.
The Domain was selected partly because of its connection to Sydney’s first Anzac Day service, held at the site in 1916.
However, the new memorial is not primarily intended to host large formal ceremonies.
Official commemorative services connected with the Middle East and other contemporary campaigns are expected to continue at established state commemorative sites, including the Martin Place Cenotaph and the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park.
The Domain memorial will instead function as a place individuals, families and small groups can visit throughout the year.
Veterans and families involved in planning
The design and development process followed several years of consultation with current and former Australian Defence Force personnel and their families.
Consultation began in 2023 and contributed to the decision to establish a new memorial specifically recognising contemporary service.
A project steering group included representatives from RSL NSW, Legacy Club Services and the Families of Veterans Guild.
A separate consultation group brought together veterans from different branches of the Australian Defence Force, peacekeeping veterans and family representatives.
Indigenous veterans and the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemoration Committee were also consulted during the concept design process.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, the Art Gallery of NSW and the City of Sydney contributed to discussions about the site and its integration into the surrounding landscape.
Remembering the impact on families
Premier Chris Minns said the project was intended to ensure the service and sacrifice of contemporary veterans remained visible to future generations.
Minister for Veterans David Harris said the memorial would also recognise the experiences of veterans’ families, who often carry the personal and emotional effects of military service.
NSW is home to almost 130,000 veterans, according to the state government.
Iraq war widow and Families of Veterans Guild board director Michelle Carr said a dedicated memorial was important because the costs of service were often shared by partners, children and wider families.
Afghanistan and Timor-Leste veteran Ross Edwards, who participated in the project steering committee, said the memorial would preserve the stories and contributions of contemporary veterans.
Completion expected by end of 2026
Construction is scheduled to continue over the coming months, with completion expected in the final quarter of 2026.
Because The Domain remains publicly accessible around the clock, vandalism prevention and security have been considered as part of project planning, including proposed CCTV coverage.
Once complete, the memorial will provide a permanent public space recognising military service since 1990—not only the conflicts and operations themselves, but also the lasting effects of that service on veterans, families and the broader community.
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