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Temple of Peace |
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Place ID |
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600334 |
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Status |
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Permanent Entry |
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Address |
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124 Birdwood Terrace |
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Town/Suburb |
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TOOWONG |
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LGA |
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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL |
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Theme |
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Remembering the fallen |
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Theme |
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Dying |
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Significance |
| The Temple of Peace, erected in 1924, is significant historically as a uniquely different war memorial in form and purpose, and as an expression of pacifist sentiment within a war memorial. Illustrative of one family’s loss in war, it is a powerful evocation of the impact of war on the Australian community. It is of significance for its unusual and extravagant design and embellishments, and its aesthetic appeal. |
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History |
| The Temple of Peace was erected in 1924 by Richard Ramo as a memorial to his four sons, three of whom had died in the First World War [1914-18].
Victor Ramo died at Messiness, his brother Henry died of wounds in Belgium, and the youngest son, Gordon, was killed at Gallipoli. An adopted son, Fred, was killed in an accident in 1923.
Such was Richard Ramo’s grief at these losses that he designed and built the temple as the last resting place of Fred’s body and the ashes of two of his soldier sons. The body of Ramo’s dog, which had been poisoned, also was interred in the memorial.
The temple was more than just a personal memorial, it was an expression of revulsion of war, containing many pacifist and anti-war inscriptions. The dedication ceremony on 6 December 1924 was attended by several thousand people, including many socialists and pacifists. The band played ‘The Red Flag’ as the coffin was placed in the memorial.
After many years of neglect the temple has been repaired recently. |
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Description |
| The memorial is in the form of a mausoleum, 2.76 metres long, 1.76 metres wide and 3 metres high. It is constructed of stone and plaster.
Four corner columns support a stepped roof which is surmounted by a miniature mausoleum containing an urn with wreath and flame in the form of a lamp of remembrance. The corner finials are in the form of classical urns and festoons.
Each side of the memorial has a pillared marble balustrade. Above this is a row of three leadlight gothic style windows. A rectangular leadlight runs along the top of all the walls. The rear wall is mostly covered with inscribed marble tablets while the front of the memorial is open with metal gates. A black metal dove with olive leaves in its mouth, a symbol of peace, sits over the entrance.
The interior contains a sarcophagus surmounted by the carved figure of a dog. Both the interior and exterior have numerous leaded memorial and pacifist inscriptions. |
Information about places in the Queensland Heritage Register is maintained
by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Queensland Heritage
Act 1992. Information available here is only part of the full Register
entry and should not be taken as an official entry. Absence does not
mean a particular place is not in the Register.
Date: 22nd May 2002
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