The Canning War Memorial & Civic Amphitheatre in Cannington is a civic place where memory, architecture, landscape, public art and community life are seamlessly interwoven.

CAA were appointed lead consultant by the City of Canning and developed the design in collaboration with Plan E, Arup, Apparatus, WT Partnership, Cardno and public artist Susanna Castleden. The project transformed the Civic Gardens and lake precinct adjacent to the City of Canning Council Building into a place of reflection, gathering and celebration.

Constructed by LKS Constructions, the facility opened on 11 November 2015. The Amphitheatre accommodates up to 3,000 people and has become a defining civic venue for the region. Over the past decade it has hosted ANZAC Day commemorations and a wide range of community events including Carols by Candlelight, Swings n’ Stomp Sundowner, Global Arts concerts, ANZAC Legacy Blues, Live at the Amphitheatre performances, Outdoor Yoga, Youth Fest and Act-Belong-Commit programs. It was a privilege working with the City, LKS Constructions, the consultant team and the public artist to deliver this facility.

At its heart, the War Memorial forms a quiet interpretive journey through integrated art elements. The Memorial Pathway, based on a 1915 Australian Army map of Gallipoli, traces the trench lines of ANZAC Cove with 100 granite inlays marking each year since the landing. Sites of Conflict identify key battle locations. Atatürk’s Tribute is inscribed with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words acknowledging shared loss. Wish for Peace uses polished black granite to reflect environment and visitor in a space of pause. Literary contributions by David Whish-Wilson extend reflection to broader impacts of conflict, including Australia’s frontier wars.

These elements are embedded within retaining walls, pathways, stage steps, canopy structures and memorial surfaces, creating a unified spatial narrative.

The facility includes a commemorative pathway, wreath-laying terrace, water feature, grove and viewing deck, shaded community stage above the lake and landscape integrated with the Civic Gardens and the lake edge.

Photography by Trasko Industrial Photographics.