Obj. ID: 43315
Modern Jewish Art Holocaust Monument in Perth, Australia, 1995
Who is Commemorated?
Jewish. Romany, and other victims of the Holocaust
Description
The memorial is in Stirling Gardens, the site of several government buildings, including the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and many statues and monuments commemorating the history of the State. Entering the Park from the Barrack St entrance, one sees see the memorial a few meters to the southeast.
The monument is a solid, cream-white stone triangular pyramid, on a triangular stone base, approximately one meter high, resting on a circular area paved with brick and concrete. The triangular base sits on a triangular concrete pavement at an angle, so together they form a Magen David, Each side of the pyramid has a centrally embedded oval bronze plaque inscribed in English and Hebrew. A rectangular plaque is affixed to the base.
Inscriptions
Front Inscription:
This
memorial is
dedicated to the memory
of 6,000,000 Jewish men,
women and children who
perished in The Holocaust;
600,000 Romany (Gypsies) and
millions of other civilians
who died at the hands of the
Nazi Regime because of
their religious, political,
social beliefs
and ethnic
affiliations
Left-side inscription:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not Jewish.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not Communist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no-one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Niemoeller
Right-side inscription:
יזכר
לחללי השואה
אל מלא רחמים
אב מלא רחמים שוכן במרומים
המצא מנוחה נכונה תחת כנפי
השכינה במעלות קדושים וטהורים
בזוהר הרקיע מצהירים את כל
הנשמות של ששת מליוני
היהודים חללי השואה באירופה
שנהרגו שנשחטו שנשרפו
שנספו על קדוש השם
בידי המרצחים הגרמנים
ועוזריהם משאר
העמים
Translation: Yizkor (The Memorial Prayer) for the victims of the Shoah. El Male Rahamim [lit. “Merciful God”]. Merciful God, who dwells above, provide a sure rest under the Divine Presence's wings, amongst of the holy and the pure, whose shining resembles the sky's, all the souls of the six million Jews, victims of the European Holocaust, who were murdered, slaughtered, burnt and exterminated for the Sanctification of the Name, by the German Nazi assassins and their helpers from the rest of the peoples.
Plaque on base:
This memorial to the
victims of the Holocaust
was unveiled by
the premier of Western Australia
the Hon Richard Court MLA
and
the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor
of the city of Perth
Dr Peter Nattress
9 November 1995
The memorial was an initiative
of the council of
Western Australian Jewry,
with support from the
Government of Western Australia
and the city of Perth
Commissioned by
The Western Australia Jewry, the Government of Western Australia, City of Perth town council.
sub-set tree:
Several Holocaust memorials were established by Australian Jewish communities, but the Perth monument was the first Holocaust memorial created by a city or state government. Government officials attended the dedication of the memorial on Kristallnacht, November 9, 1995. The memorial was erected in Perth’s Stirling Gardens, a prime location in the city.
"Holocaust memorial," Monument Australia, https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/genocide/display/61002-holocaust-memorial (accessed January 30, 2022)
"Memorial to the Victims of the Holocaust — Perth, Australia," Waymarking , https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8DFQ_Memorial_to_the_Victims_of_the_HolocaustPerth_Australia (accessed January 30, 2022)
“Australian City Unveils memorial,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, November 15, 1995, https://www.jta.org/archive/australian-city-unveils-memorial (accessed January 30, 2022)