Letter - Document, letter, 1971

Historical information

After the first world war there was a decision made to create a memorial. Legatees were involved in the process at various times and capacities. In particular Legatee Kemsley was vocal when the idea of the St Kilda Road site, which was favoured early on, was overturned and in 1926 there was pressure to change to a "provision of square" and Cenotaph at the intersection of Spring and Bourke Streets.
Legacy Clubs voiced their opposition to this proposal by passing a resolution "That the Melbourne Legacy Club, representative of the returned soldiers in business in this city, whilst welcoming the Anzac Square Scheme as a city improvement, cannot support it as a War Memorial scheme and affirms its support for the Shrine of Remembrance in the Domain as the only War Memorial worthy of Victoria's unparalleled efforts in the Great War."
The document was in an envelope with the History of the Shrine (01181). The envelope says 'The Origin of the Shrine of Remembrance p/p Legatees Kemsley and Joynt'. And the initial 'JMBA'?. It was in a file with other documents concerning the Shrine and it's history.

Significance

A record of the events that led to the construction of the Shrine of Remembrance as noted by a Legatee at the time. There was an effort to record historical events for the "Archive Committee" which collected this an other documents relating to the Shrine together in a file with the items given numbest prefixed with an S (see items 01181 - 01190 and 01206 - 01211).

Physical description

A two page carbon copy of a letter typed on white quarto paper. Dated 30 April 1971, it is from Legatee Donovan Joynt to the President of Legacy outlining Legacy's impact in the building the Shrine.

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten in blue ink, 'Copy' on front page and signed 'Donovan'.

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