A Roof To Remember

The new ANZAC Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra has helped the venue win the accolade of Canberra's top tourist attraction for the second consecutive year. The new A$11.9 million hall houses, among other exhibits, the Japanese midget submarine sunk in Sydney Harbour in May 1942.

ANZAC Hall provides 3000 square metres of exhibition space to display the Memorial's collection of large technology items, including the midget submarine.The major relics in ANZAC Hall are displayed in dramatic "object theatre" using lighting, sound and images to convey stories.

The hall's roof is clad with LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK® 406 made from COLORBOND® steel.The Cliff Grey colour of the COLORBOND® steel was specially created for the Memorial to blend in with the blue/grey finish of the building. The colour is enhanced by LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK® 406 sheeting's flatter appearing pans.

Australian War Memorial director Steve Gower said the decision to use the LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK® steel roof created a cost-effective solution for a building that stands out dramatically against an existing heritage precinct.

"It reads extraordinally well against the existing Memorial building and its copper-sheathed dome," Mr Gower said. "It is a good solution to a difficult architectural problem."

Melbourne-based architectural firm Denton Corker Marshall designed the project, with construction carried out by Canberra's Hindmarsh Group.