Spartans and ANZACs

About this event

Spartans and ANZACs is on at Shrine of Remembrance (Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004) on Sun 8 Nov 2026.

Tickets and details are on the organiser’s website, linked on this page. Prices listed by the organiser: Price Free. They’re indicative, so check the final price when you book.

The organiser lists these accessibility features for the event: website meets wcag 2.0.

From the organiser

Australia had its own Thermopylae. People have just forgotten it.

In 480 BC, one of history's most famous battles was fought in central Greece at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae. For three days, a few thousand Greeks, led by 300 Spartan warriors and their king, Leonidas I, held back a vast Persian army. Eventually encircled, the Spartans and their allies were killed. Their stand, however, allowed thousands of comrades to escape and fight on, leaving an enduring example of courage and sacrifice.

In April 1941, on the eve of Anzac Day, Australian and New Zealand troops returned to this same ground. Outnumbered and under relentless pressure from advancing German forces, ANZAC units used the rugged terrain of Thermopylae and nearby Brallos Pass to delay the enemy, enabling thousands of Allied soldiers to withdraw to safety.

Spartans and ANZACs draws a powerful connection between these two defining moments. It reveals how service, sacrifice and mateship transcend time, linking ancient warriors with modern soldiers in a shared legacy of courage.

This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict, and how these stories continue to shape the meaning of remembrance today.

The venue’s recorded access

Inclusable’s venue database has an entry for Shrine of Remembrance at this location. It records wheelchair access, step-free entry and accessible parking. The venue hasn’t confirmed these details. They describe the venue in general, not this particular event.

Not yet recorded for the venue: accessible toilet and communication and sensory features such as a hearing loop or quiet hours. We don’t know either way, so it’s worth checking before you go.