This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
Jurisdiction
Commonwealth
Act Number
18 of 1925
Collection
act
Plain English Summary
3/10 complexity
Australian War Memorial Act 1925
This Act establishes the Australian War Memorial — a national institution to honour and remember Australians who died in World War One (which the Act refers to as "the war that commenced on 4 August 1914").
What does it actually do?
Creates the Memorial itself: The Act declares there shall be a permanent Commonwealth memorial to Australians who died in WWI. The Memorial consists of a physical collection of war relics — things like objects, records, models, pictures, photographs — plus a building to house them (with the building's location gazetted, meaning officially announced, by the Governor-General).
Absorbs the existing War Museum: Whatever was already in the Australian War Museum at the time this Act commenced automatically becomes part of the Memorial's collection.
Lets the Minister buy more exhibits: The Minister responsible can use money approved by Parliament to acquire new items for the collection.
Sets up a Board of Management: A group of up to 12 people, appointed by the Governor-General for 4-year terms, runs the Memorial. A Chairman is also appointed. Day-to-day decisions need only a quorum (minimum group) of 5 members, and majority vote rules — the Chairman gets a vote like everyone else, but no tie-breaking vote.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Managing and publicly displaying the collection
Buying additional exhibits using the Fund (see below)
Selling, exchanging, or loaning duplicate or unsuitable items (with Ministerial approval)
Selling reproductions of photos, films, and other records to the public (with Ministerial approval)
Reporting annually to the Minister
Creates the Australian War Memorial Fund: A dedicated pool of money to support the Memorial, drawn from an existing government trust account, investment returns, sales proceeds, government direction, and donations/bequests. The Fund can be used to buy more war relics and cover administration costs.
Requires financial accountability: The Fund's books must be kept and audited in line with the Audit Act 1901–1924, with the Auditor-General (the independent government financial watchdog) checking the accounts.
Who does it affect?
Primarily the Commonwealth Government and the Board of Management it appoints. It also affects the Australian public, who gain access to a permanent, curated memorial and collection honouring WWI service and sacrifice.
Why does it matter?
This Act is the founding legal document of one of Australia's most significant national institutions. It gave the Australian War Memorial a formal legal existence, a governance structure, and a dedicated funding mechanism — ensuring the memory of those who served and died in WWI would be preserved and publicly accessible in perpetuity.