MICHAEL SMITH AND ASSOCIATES
Kokoda Memorial Terrace
Mount Dandenong National Park
Client | Parks Victoria
Year | 2012
Parks Victoria commissioned our practice as the lead consultant, to undertake the design and documentation of the Kokoda Memorial Terrace in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. The terrace was proposed as a memorial site to commemorate the Second World War Kokoda Campaign in Papua New Guinea.
The well-known trail of the 1,000 steps which documents the key sites along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, links with the new Kokoda Memorial Terrace. Key subconsultant skills were in the following disciplines: Graphic design and signage fabrication, architecture and detailed documentation, structural and civil engineering and quantity surveying.
The design process involved a series of consultation meetings with Parks Victoria and members of the Army Battalions to provide the design a clear direction from the outset, on the graphic content and style of the interpretive panels which documented the Kokoda campaign. We met with some of the servicemen from the Kokoda campaign to gather information and their stories to contribute to the information on the interpretive panels.
The design includes a semi-circular shelter with interpretive panels, two terraces connected by curved steps, feature podium steps with memorial totems and native and indigenous species planting. As part of the project our practice also undertook the planning application to the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
