The Battle of Isurava is regarded historically as a pivotal battle site of The Kokoda Campaign. The site is extremely remote and offers a majestic lookout to the Kokoda valley.
In 2003 HPA were engaged to assess the remote site and subsequently design and project manage the construction of a memorial, site interpretation, trekker huts and amenities.
Designed as a sequence of tiered platforms, the visitor descends to the memorial platform on a formal view axis with the Kokoda Valley in the distance. The stone and bronze circle, a simple geometric form in a wild landscape, symbolises a defensive army position known as ‘harbouring up’. The solid granite sentinel blocks symbolise the values of the men – Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice. The final platform in the sequence is an interpretive
viewing area.
All material, equipment were supplied from Australia, airlifted to site using heavy payload helicopters. A total of 130 tonnes was lifted, including granite cladding and four 4 tonne solid granite sentinel stones.
Sub-Contractors
Civil And Marine Contracting Port Moresby
Hevilift Png
Melocco Stone, Melbourne
ProjectKokoda Track MemorialClientAustralian Government DVALocationPapua New Guinea, near village of IsuravaDate2003ValuePrivate
