Cenotaph, Sydney, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Cenotaph is Sydney's main memorial to Australians who died in war, standing in Martin Place in the heart of the city's business district. A simple stone monument guarded by bronze figures, it is the focus of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services in Sydney, and a quiet place to pause in the middle of a busy pedestrian street.

The story behind it

A cenotaph is an empty tomb, a monument to people buried somewhere else. Sydney's was designed by the sculptor Sir Bertram Mackennal and honours the Australians who died in the First World War. Its dedication was later widened to remember those lost in other conflicts. Bronze figures of a soldier and a sailor stand at either end, keeping watch over the stone between them.

Martin Place was chosen because it is the city's ceremonial heart. The pedestrian street runs from near the old General Post Office on George Street up to Macquarie Street. Large crowds gather at the Cenotaph each year for dawn services and Remembrance Day. At other times of year it is often marked with wreaths and flowers.

What to look for

• The bronze soldier and sailor at the two ends of the monument, shown standing watch with their heads bowed.
• The plain, clean lines of the stone itself, which gives the monument its solemn feel among the surrounding office towers.
• Wreaths and poppies left at the base, which show how the site is still used for remembrance.
• The long sweep of Martin Place in both directions, with the grand sandstone buildings that frame the memorial.

Tips for your visit

• Allow ten to fifteen minutes at the Cenotaph itself, longer if you want to read the surroundings and watch the street life.
• Go early on a weekday morning for a quiet moment, or visit on a commemorative day to see the ceremony, though crowds will be large.
• It stands in an open public street, so you can walk right up to it. Treat it as a memorial and keep voices low.
• The old General Post Office, now the Fullerton Hotel, is close by on Martin Place. Forgotten Songs, the artwork of suspended bird cages in nearby Angel Place, is also a short walk away.

See it on a quest

Ghosts of Sydney: The Lost Son is a good way to see the Cenotaph as one stop on a longer walk through the city centre. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape in Sydney takes a lighter, story-led approach to the same part of town. You walk from place to place, hear about each one as you reach it, and solve a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Sydney Shadows: The Ghost of the QVB suits anyone who likes the darker side of the city's history. It links the Cenotaph with other places nearby, tells you about each as you arrive, and sets a puzzle at each one. One ticket covers the whole group.