Springthorpe Memorial

The Springthorpe Memorial is a memorial in Kew, Melbourne, featuring white marble sculptures, dark marble columns, and a stained glass domed roof made from ruby-red glass. Sculptor Bertram Mackennal created the carved elements while architect Harold Desbrowe-Annear designed the overall structure set within Boroondara Cemetery on elevated ground.

The memorial was commissioned in 1897 to honor a woman who died at age 30 while giving birth to their fourth child. The family chose artistic expressions and poetic inscriptions as a way to preserve memory through symbolic language rather than plain statements.

The memorial blends Greek temple design with Gothic details and displays verses in both English and Greek on its base and upper sections. The artistic choices reflect values the family wanted to express through symbolic forms rather than direct statements.

The memorial sits on elevated ground within the cemetery, so be prepared for a slight uphill walk to reach it. Pathways through the surrounding grounds help visitors navigate and take time to view the structure from different angles.

The memorial never displays the name of the honored woman on its surfaces, instead using literary quotes and poetic verses throughout. This unusual approach turns the visit into a puzzle, inviting people to uncover the story through symbolic language rather than direct labeling.

Website: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/6021/download-report

GPS coordinates: -37.80338,145.04205

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:45