Proposal for an immigration statue in Canberra

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Created on Monday, 17 September 2012 15:48

Written by Editorial staff

A competition which will decide who gets to build a proposed immigration monument near the national archives will open next year, according to the National Capital Authority (NCA).

This statue will be required to meet certain standards including falling in line with tree height requirements and according to NCA chief executive Gary Rake, must be respectful of what it represents.

"The community felt the design and functionality should complement and support the National Archives, as the official repository of immigrant records.

"The design must also respect and complement the existing landscape, built environment and context of the area; and take careful account of all heritage values of the area," he said.

Originally, not-for-profit company Immigration Place Australia wanted to build a $30 million bridge across Lake Burley Griffin, but public support dwindled amid concerns of costs and time which ultimately saw the plan abandoned.

Money to build the project was to be raised through selling places on the hand rail of the bridge, which would be inscribed with an immigrant's name and detail their origin and how they made a successful citizenship application to become Australians.

The company then decided that a monument in the Parliamentary Triangle was the way to go after the bridge was eventually scrapped.

One comment on the comments section of the National Capitol website said:

"I am very disappointed at the misplaced aesthetism and revisionary thinking that has side-tracked this once significant idea. A Bridge is a powerful symbol that cannot be replaced with an out of the way empty space. Too late to get my 1960 ten-Pounds back!" said Joel.

A Canberra National Memorials Committee (CNMC) meeting will be called after a report is read by the federal government, detailing the administration of national memorials.

Immigration Place Australia will choose one of the six submissions that the NCA had received thus far with final approval to be given to the CNMC and the prime minister.

Recent immigration issues have made this statue a timely reminder of the importance of unity from all cultures. The recent spate of violent protests in Sydney regarding religion and the constant debate surrounding the illegal arrival of boat people signals that a reminder of the contribution of immigrants to Australia is needed, now more than ever.

"The majority of submissions agreed a monument would acknowledge the significant contributions made by immigrants to Australia," Gary Rake said.