http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/drunkill/Shrine2.jpg
The shrine may get upgraded.

======
The Age
March 28, 2006 - 12:37PM

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has written to Prime Minister John Howard seeking money for a major redevelopment of Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.

A Melbourne newspaper reported today a planned $62 million overhaul of the shrine could double visitor numbers to more than one million a year.
More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bracks-seeks-cash-for-shrine/2006/03/28/1143441127028.html

=======

And the HUN
New Shrine of Remembrance plan
Neil Wilson
28mar06

THE Shrine would be transformed into one of the world's leading heritage museums under a $62 million plan to preserve the spirit of our armed forces.

Chambers beneath the Melbourne landmark would be developed into a hi-tech education centre to try to double visitor numbers to more than a million a year. More: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18628743%255E661,00.html



So, what do you all think? I like the idea of more underground galleries. but a carpark isn't really needed, most trams in melbourne go past it.
What they should do though is make a big cavern type thing, put some displays in there, old planes/tanks make it like the War museum in Canberra, with the sheds of stuff, but underground.

A big tick from me. Since the vast majority will be underground it will not impact upon the Shrine itself which would be a big no-no. It definately has a lot to offer, I agree a masssive underground display would be awesome, and it will definately boost tourism (and school trips) as there would be more to see and do.

Stu

no carparks! it's so close to PT building carparks is just a waste of money.

The carpark would be underground! If it is open to the public (as well as visitors to the shrine) it may help with easing some parking congestion which is always a good thing IMHO. Being so close to public transport would give some incentive to park and ride, etc rather than clog up the CBD with more cars.

Stu

The carpark would be underground! If it is open to the public (as well as visitors to the shrine) it may help with easing some parking congestion which is always a good thing IMHO. Being so close to public transport would give some incentive to park and ride, etc rather than clog up the CBD with more cars.

Stu

Providing underground parking for the CBD under the Shrine hill sounds both very expensive and very ineffective, and would also inhibit the proposed car-park's main purpose. I haven't seen detailed plans for this as yet: I only read "The Hun" on this while I was waiting in the supermarket checkout queue. The link to Fairfax above isn't very informative either.

The carpark is a really stupid idea, 480 spaces makes it a commerial car park not just for visitors to the Shrine.

Car park plan for Shrine under fire

By Rachel Kleinman
March 29, 2006
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/car-park-plan-for-shrine-under-fire/2006/03/28/1143441151104.html

PLANS for a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the Shrine of Remembrance could spark conflict with nearby residents and some Melbourne city councillors.

While Lord Mayor and Shrine trustee John So welcomed the $62 million proposal yesterday, council planning committee chairwoman Catherine Ng said the proposal for a 480-space car park was "disturbing".

"We've got to be careful about the long-term future of Melbourne and sustainability of the Shrine when we are trying to discourage more car use," Cr Ng said.

"If (the Shrine) has to rely on car park revenue to run it, that is quite disturbing."

Architects Ashton Raggatt McDougall have drawn up a master plan that includes a three-storey car park beneath Kings Domain's southern lawn, an underground exhibition hall and education centre.

In 2003, the architecture firm created a $10 million, award-winning visitor centre in the bowels of the Shrine.

Shrine trustees chairman John Taylor said visitor rates had since doubled to 500,000 a year.

This new project would expand that work, creating an education centre that would teach values to young people, he said. Car park revenue would meet running costs.

But Melbourne South Yarra resident group spokeswoman Barbara Sungaila said the proposal would cause traffic pollution and congestion. "Having the car park entrance in Domain Road will encourage further traffic use there, and it will impinge on the vista of the Shrine from the south," Ms Sungaila said.

Heritage Victoria acting executive director Ray Osborne said he had been kept informed about the plan. "The proposals are fairly ambitious but given the success of the northern side (redevelopment) we would have to be open to what they suggest," Mr Osborne said.

I recently read and reread "The Illustrated Atlas of the World's Great Buildings" (Landsdowne Press, ISBN 0 7018 1439 9).

There were only two buildings from Australia there: one was, predictably, the Sydney Opera House, the other was Melbourne's Shrine of Rememberance, which also appeared on the inside flap of the front cover. I know what inspired this building. I also remember my partner bowing her head in appreciation six years ago when she first saw the sanctuary there: although we'd been to a Cathedral or two, it was the first time she'd seen a truly sacred site in Australia.

Extending this Memorial would have to be done very carefully .... and mainly underground. Using it also for a CBD carpark? Well, I note last Sunday, that the area was fenced off, so no-one could use the Shrine as what was obviously an excellent viewpoint for the bike-race. Obviously the same thing applies regarding turning it into an underground parking lot.

We do not need an underground car park near the Shrine. What a silly idea. There are over 8 tram routes within a 5 minute walking away. Why do we need to encourage more cars into the Domain? The on street car parking is sufficient.

NO CAR PARK IN THE DOMAIN!!!!

Bring on the carpark, I say. If there is already sufficient public transport, then it won't get used. No one really loses in that case. Can't hurt to give people choices.

Also, there is a genuine public good in providing the best possible access to memorials such as this.

the 500 extra car spots will be good. there are other events in the area such as weddings and festivals that use the surrounding area and there on-street parking is completely full for this. Plus i don't think onstreet parking offers long enough term for people attending these weddings and events. Bus parking is definately a plus since it provides better opportunities for schools to get along. As for the extra stuff planned for the development and the design it should be awesome, plus it shouldn't disturb traffic flow too much as the entry comes from domain rd.

Oh, ok. Let's build a huge car park and let the existing roads that are already cloged up and full of traffic, bank up even further, but this time, let the traffic snarl start at Frankston!

Oh what a silly idea!

But if public transport to the Shrine is so good (and it is) then people aren't going to start driving because there's a big carpark there now. The other thing is that people visiting the shrine and its surrounds most likely won't arrive at 9 and leave at 5.

And most normal people aren't going to go a wedding in a tram.

If this car park does get built, it will ultimatly service the office towers on St Kilda Rd, thus creating more traffic problems in South Yarra and encouraging more people to drive into an area that is already well serviced by public transport.

Its still a very silly idea.

Surprised no-one posted this, article in the Sun today... may be over before it begins...

PM snubs Shrine plan
Neil Wilson
29mar06

Expansion a no-go without federal help
JOHN Howard has snubbed the idea of jointly funding a $62 million expansion of the Shrine.

The office of Premier Steve Bracks yesterday opened a letter from the Prime Minister rejecting Victoria's approach for the Federal Government to contribute to the project.

The Prime Minister wrote his refusal to Mr Bracks last Thursday, the day before federal Treasurer Peter Costello assured Shrine trustees he was carefully considering their business plan.

Mr Howard had his letter copied to three Victorian ministers briefed by Shrine officials -- Mr Costello, Veterans' Affairs Minister Bruce Billson and Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews.

The trustees have a business plan to expand the Shrine into a world-class education centre and museum.

They seek $30 million each from state and federal governments and $2 million from corporate donations.

A spokeswoman for Mr Bracks said yesterday that unless the Commonwealth agreed to help, the Shrine expansion could not go ahead.

She said Victoria's $30 million share requested for the three-year project by the Shrine Trustees was still being considered as part of this year's Budget.

"This is a project of national significance which we believe deserves to be jointly funded between the state and the Commonwealth," she said.

"We're disappointed the Federal Government has chosen not to support this. It can't proceed unless they do.

"We will continue to work with the RSL and Shrine Trustees to keep pushing this matter to the Federal Government."

Mr Howard acknowledged the work of the Shrine Trustees in maintaining and developing the Shrine as a memorial and an education resource.

"I do not agree the redevelopment should be jointly funded by the Australian Government," he wrote. "The focus of national commemorations is, and will continue to be, the Australian War Memorial."

Trustees chairman John Taylor said he was surprised but officials would "soldier on" in lobbying federal ministers.

"If that's the position we will just have to put in more work. This is a unique opportunity," he said.

"No one is ignoring the fact that the AWM is of national significance, but we believe the Shrine is as well. It was built at a time when no one was sure there would be a war memorial in Canberra."

RSL state president and Shrine trustee Maj-Gen David McLachlan said the Shrine was the most significant war monument outside Canberra.

He said he believed Mr Costello was unaware of the Prime Minister's refusal of funds when he visited the Shrine last Friday.

Part of the proposal is an underground car park beneath the Domain, to fund the Shrine's operations in line with a goal of doubling visitor numbers to one million a year.

The 480-vehicle car park beneath King's Domain was immediately opposed by The Melbourne-South Yarra Group and Protectors of Public Land.

The head of Melbourne City Council's environment committee, Greens councillor Fraser Brindley, rejected using more parkland for a commercial car park as a "crazy" and outdated idea.

Stu

The other thing is that people visiting the shrine and its surrounds most likely won't arrive at 9 and leave at 5.
Maybe not, but most will definately be arriving and departing BETWEEN these hours, as the Shrine and Botanic Gardens are only open during daylight hours.

The fact is, 480 car parking spaces are proposed purely as a revenue stream. School groups would arrive in buses which wouldn't use the carpark, so the actual amount of Shrine visitors that travel by car would be probably quite low - as most tourists use public transport or walk around the central city area. It would be better for the government to offer the amount of this revenue to the Shrine's trustees' in committed annual funding, and use the rest elsewhere. There are numerous more worthy needs to committ 10s of millions of dollars (which is what the carpark component would cost).

As for weddings in trams, it's would be a good business to get into. Here in London, the old routemaster buses are very popular for weddings and party hire. It would be quite a good business to reuse the unused W-Class trams to transport people between ceremony and reception. It would also work as a very good photo opportunity for the happy couple. For parties too. There currently is only one company running such a business (tramcar restaurant) and they're fully booked. Converting trams to include a bar would work as a very popular alternative to the booze cruises.

In any case, seeing as Johnny as refused the funding, it seems they'll have to scale back their ambitions - which hopefully means dropping the car park.

Provided access issues are sorted out re the underground car park, the development sounds great.

The Shire Trust have stated that the car park is mainly for revenue reaising, not visitors. It won't get approved because it is completely inconsistent with the Melbourne planning scheme and the Shire already copes with 500,000 visitors per annum without a single off street car park.

I dont mind the upgrade, so long as there is no car park.
Walking up through the parks and gardens to get to the shrine is all apart of the experience of going.
Down with the car park!

Though - the revenue raised through the car park would keep the museum component of the Shrine funded - but what is wrong witht Museum Vic giving some form of assistance!
No Car Park for our Sacred Shrine!

The Shire Trust have stated that the car park is mainly for revenue reaising, not visitors. It won't get approved because it is completely inconsistent with the Melbourne planning scheme and the Shire already copes with 500,000 visitors per annum without a single off street car park.
True, but it's a state government project, i.e. the local council either approves it or the minister calls it in, probably be called in to streamline it from the beginning

It is inconsistent with Melbourne 2030 as well.