Anzac Square VP Day

On Saturday, August 15, 2020, Queenslanders will commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day differently than in years past, at home, online and inside the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries, with a variety of resources curated by State Library of Queensland.   

Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day commemorates Japan’s acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender, effectively putting an end to World War II, and six years of global devastation. This year, Anzac Square will look back on the years of commemorations, cavalcades and camaraderie that underpin the Queensland war experience and recognise those who bravely served our nation. 

Visitors can explore the full extent of Queensland’s involvement in the Second World War inside the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries  - a free, digital exhibition located beneath the Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane's CBD.

The galleries, which are normally closed on Saturdays, will be open from 10am to 2pm on VP Day to accommodate those wishing to commemorate on site. Visiting the galleries in person is a great way to explore the State Library’s digital collection of stories, letters, photographs and historical artefacts, with a friendly Visitor Services team onsite to enrich your experience.  

 From August 10, Queenslanders can commemorate at home and on-the-go, by listening to voice-activated letters and diaries written around the end of the World War II. Just ask Google Assist or Amazon Alexa to “Launch VP Day Stories”. 

Also, take some time to search through the State Library’s exciting new interactive online tool, Explorer, where you can view images and film from the Second World War and help document the story of Queensland by tagging and commenting on collection items. You can also upload your own photos from the time.  

Discover more ways you can commemorate differently at Anzac Square and Memorial Galleries, and don't forget to share your VP Day experience on social media by using the hashtags #AnzacSquare and #VPDay75. 

Anzac Square and Memorial Galleries is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com