One hundred years and many wars later, Australians have marked the end of what was meant to be the ‘war to end all wars’.
Veterans and their families gathered on Sunday around the country and the world to mark Remembrance Day with a minute’s silence.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have addressed a crowd at the National War Memorial, which was originally built to mark those who died in WWI.
One hundred years and many wars later, Australians have marked the end of what was meant to be the ‘war to end all wars’ (pictured prime minster Scott Morrison arrives (left centre) during the Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra)
Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (L), former Prime Minister Paul Keating and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (R) walk along the Roll of Honour during the Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Memorial
In Sydney, meanwhile, the new water cascade was filled with poppies thrown by visitors to the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park
Large crowds gathered around the country on Sunday, including at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Adelaide
Steven Marshall, Premier of South Australia, could be seen paying his respects during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Adelaide
Poppies were released by a plane during the ceremony in Adelaide to commemorate 100 years since the end of the Great War
It has been expanded since then to fit memorials for other wars, and is set for a $500 million expansion.
Originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of the Great War, it was changed after World War Two to commemorate those who died in both wars.
‘On 11 November 1918 at 11am, the guns on the Western Front fell silent and the most destructive war the modern world had seen was all but over and countries around the world celebrated,’ Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said this week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have addressed a crowd at the National War Memorial (pictured), which was originally built to mark those who died in World War One.
The National War Memorial (pictured) has been expanded since World War One to fit memorials for other wars, and is getting another $500 million expansion to fit in even more
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith (centre) arrives for Remembrance Day commemorations at the Australian War Memorial
Protestors from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War were also present at the memorial in Canberra
An evening vigil will also be held at the tomb of the unknown soldier, marking 25 years since he was laid to rest in Canberra
Armistice centenary commemorations were carried out in Wellington, New Zealand (pictured handout photo)
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also pictured paying her respects after laying a wreath during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Brisbane, Queensland
Australia had not been a nation very long but 416,000 people enlisted in that war and 60,000 never returned home.
‘Over the following century, our nation has been called on numerous times and tragically today more than 102,000 names are listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial,’ Mr Chester said.
National War Memorial director Brendan Nelson said it had been pleasing to see greater attention placed on Remembrance Day than in any year he can remember.
‘It marks the formal end of an event that more than anything else changed us as people and ultimately gave us a greater belief in ourselves,’ Dr Nelson told Sky News on Sunday.
From dawn to dusk on Sunday a beam of light will be projected from the Australian War Memorial to Parliament House, changing from white, pink and red.
An evening vigil will also be held at the tomb of the unknown soldier, marking 25 years since he was laid to rest in Canberra.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove will be in France, representing Australia at a service at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
From dawn to dusk on Sunday a beam of light will be projected from the Australian War Memorial to Parliament House, changing from white, pink and red (pictured opposition leader Bill Shorten at the memorial service)
In Victoria, both the Labor government and the coalition opposition have halted their election campaign out of respect (pictured bed of poppies on the ACT Memorial)
National War Memorial director Brendan Nelson said it had been pleasing to see greater attention placed on Remembrance Day than in any year he can remember
Sir Peter Cosgrove told troops in the Middle East before Remembrance Day ‘we are as a nation enormously proud of you, instinctively proud of you. We don’t hear enough of you, but that’s because you do your jobs so well’
‘On 11 November 1918 at 11am, the guns on the Western Front fell silent and the most destructive war the modern world had seen was all but over and countries around the world celebrated,’ Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said this week
Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (L) and former Prime Minister Paul Keating walk along the Roll of Honour during the Remembrance Day Service
In Victoria, both the Labor government and the coalition opposition have halted their election campaign out of respect.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove will be in France, representing Australia at a service at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
He also visited troops in the Middle East ahead of Remembrance Day.
‘We are as a nation enormously proud of you, instinctively proud of you. We don’t hear enough of you, but that’s because you do your jobs so well,’ Sir Peter told them.