Australian–American Memorial, Memorial obelisk in Russell, Canberra, Australia.
The Australian–American Memorial is a hollow, octagonal, tapered column 79 metres (259 ft) tall, built on a steel framework clad in sandblasted aluminium panels that imitate stone. Two base murals depict American combat in the Pacific and a copper profile map of the United States. A bronze eagle and sphere by Paul Beadle crown the column, and a water-filled moat about 3 metres wide surrounds it.
Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the memorial in 1954 to honor American support during World War II in the Pacific. Its construction marked an important moment in solidifying the postwar partnership between Australia and the United States.
Two murals at the base show American combat operations in the Pacific, alongside a copper profile map of the United States. These artworks serve as daily reminders of the shared wartime history between the two nations.
The memorial stands on Russell Hill on the extended line of Kings Avenue, at one of the three nodes of the Parliamentary Triangle, with Russell Offices built around it and the immediate surrounds named Blamey Square. Approach on foot from Kings Avenue; the column rises from a water-filled moat about 3 metres wide, so view it from the surrounding paving rather than up close.
The memorial's nickname is "Bugs Bunny", and its eagle-and-sphere top weighs 3.5 tons and stands about 11 metres high. The bronze wreath under the dedication was carved by Walter Langcake. The column's aluminium panels were sandblasted to look like stone.
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