On 14 November 2025, a large crowd at the Australian War Memorial heard Rachel Perkins and Henry Reynolds, editors of The Australian Wars, talk about the book and answer questions. Since then, there has been correspondence between Defending Country and the Memorial. We publish it without comment.
Defending Country to the Memorial
13 January 2026
Mr Matt Anderson PSM
Director
Australian War Memorial
Dear Matt
We’ve welcomed the Memorial making its theatre available for the very well-attended celebration of The Australian Wars on 14 November. We see that event – and the reception the book is receiving – as indicating a decisive change in Australian attitudes to the Australian (Frontier) Wars, not least within the Memorial.
While we’re pleased that the Memorial has made moves to recognise the Australian Wars, we feel that this acceptance has been reluctant and ambivalent. We understand that the proposed ‘Pre-1914 gallery’ will not be completed until 2028 and that content decisions still have to be made and approved by Memorial management. In early 2026, however, this leaves more questions unanswered than need be.
We believe the Memorial can make– now – some significant contributions by addressing the following points:
- Follow through on Council Chair Beazley's 2023 commitment that the Australian Wars be portrayed in a substantial and separate gallery, one in accord with the scale and significance of the Australian Wars in the history of the continent. Allocating a disproportionately small area of a small ‘Pre-1914 gallery’ would neither be justified in terms of losses in the Australian Wars, nor show the ‘dignity of resistance’, as Mr Beazley has put it.
- Confirm that the qualifying words of the August 2022 Council determination (preference for link to later uniformed service, deferring to other institutions) no longer apply.
- Clarify the possible allocations of space hinted at in your 3 December Estimates appearance, taking account of the options put to you in our letter to you of 10 August 2025.
- Commit to consultation with First Nations beyond the membership of the Memorial's Indigenous advisory group.
- Commit to genuine consultation with historians.
Action – now – on these five points would show the Memorial’s clear and wholehearted commitment to the recognition of frontier conflict. Meanwhile, we note Senator David Shoebridge’s remarks at Senate Estimates:
[A]llocating barely 1 per cent of the floor space to the Frontier Wars, if that's what ends up happening, consistent with what you've suggested may be happening, would be gross disrespect to First Nations peoples, and gross disrespect to the scale of the Frontier Wars that covered this continent and the appalling loss of life to First Nations peoples from the Frontier Wars. For the record, I want it said that 200 square metres, barely 1 per cent of the space, is gross disrespect to the struggle First Nations peoples had.
Rachel Perkins and HenryReynolds have seen this letter and support its arguments.
We look forward to your timely and positive response, and as we have made clear, are willing to engage with you in constructive dialogue rather than persist in fruitless disputation.
Sincerely
[signed]
Prof. Peter Stanley
President
Defending Country Memorial Project Inc.
with the support of
Ms Rachel Perkins & Prof. Henry Reynolds
The Memorial to Defending Country
17 January 2026
Dear Peter
Happy New Year and thanks for your email.
As I have stated previously, we will stand up the gallery design team for the Pre-1914 galleries when we have concluded the galleries in ANZAC Hall. The Pre-1914 Gallery will open in mid-2028, along with the Discovery Zone/Learning Centre. The Gallery Design Team will establish the methodology, including composition of the various advisory groups and of course it will engage with historians.
You may feel that the Memorial is reluctant and ambivalent and you are entitled to your view. It is, however, solely your opinion and does not represent fact.
The space available for the gallery was set in the 2019 gallery masterplan and that is unchanged. Mr Stephens has been provided with a response. As you have noted regarding the book launch, galleries are not the only way to disseminate information. The conference to be held by the Memorial later this year will be another important opportunity.
The remainder of your message repeats previous communications. Again, I note your views and thank you for raising them with me directly. They will be considered among others I receive.
Sincerely,
Matt [Anderson, Director]
* Part of a well-known remark from the 19th century German philosopher and politician, Max Weber. It is his description of politics and it very much applies to dealings with the War Memorial.
Defending Country will publish (subject to our Editorial and Moderation Policy) without amendment any comment the Memorial wishes to make on this post.
Picture credit: the queue at the War Memorial on 14 November to have copies signed of The Australian Wars (Peter Stanley).
