CONSTRUCTION of Swansea’s rising sun Anzac memorial is well under way, with the first of three parts assembled.
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To be installed along Swansea foreshore, the steel structure will stand six metres tall and be visible to motorists from the Swansea bridge.
The monument, which will be illuminated at sunrise, is a replica of one in Onslow, Western Australia, where it is being built.
It will be delivered in three parts and welded together on-site.
The project is expected to be finished in the first week of April in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Australian troops landing in Gallipoli for World War I.
The $111,000 project is being funded by the federal and state governments; Swansea RSL Club and sub-branch; Catherine Hill Bay RSL Club and Newcastle Maritime Centre.
Swansea RSL sub-branch vice president Barney Blundell said he hoped the memorial, and its location, would draw a record crowd to this year’s dawn service.
Historically the service has been held at the cenotaph in front of Swansea RSL Club, but Mr Blundell said the crowd had outgrown this space.
Between 600 and 800 people turn out to the dawn service every year.
‘‘I think we’ll have a huge crowd this year, maybe about 1500 people,’’ Mr Blundell said.
‘‘It should be a beautiful sight.’’