Regulating memory: commemorative structures and urban governance in Australian cities

Monuments, memorials and plaques contribute significantly to the historical legibility and emotional register of public space. There is a large literature on public commemoration as a social and cultural practice, but little attention has been paid to its bureaucratic management. Australian capital city governments deal with many proposals to usepublic space within their jurisdictions for commemorative installations. However, the development of policy frameworks to manage public commemoration is a relatively recent initiative. This article discusses the social and political dynamics of public commemoration in major Australian cities, and examines some recent policy responses.