Plans have been unveiled for a new memorial in central Melbourne honouring Victorians who have died in workplace incidents, with construction expected to begin later this year.
The Victorian Government on Tuesday released artist impressions of the memorial’s centrepiece, a sculpture designed by Canadian-born artist Jill Anholt. The installation will be located at the corner of Victoria and Russell streets in Melbourne, beside the historic Eight Hour Monument, which commemorates Victoria’s role as the first jurisdiction to legislate an eight-hour working day in 1903.
Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission Ben Carroll said the memorial would provide a place for families and the community to remember workers who have lost their lives and to reflect on the importance of workplace safety.
The sculpture is designed as an incomplete ring, symbolising the absence left by those who have died at work while also creating a space for visitors to gather. According to the design concept, it will function as a solar installation that tracks the movement of light across a typical eight-hour working day.
Stories shared by bereaved families will also shape the final design, with a poem planned to be engraved into stone as part of the memorial.
The Victorian Government has committed $2.5 million to the project, which is being delivered in partnership with WorkSafe Victoria, Victorian Trades Hall Council and the City of Melbourne. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Mr Carroll said the memorial would honour workers who had died while also serving as a reminder of the need to prevent workplace harm.
Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council Luke Hilakari said the project would create a place where Victorians could gather to grieve and reflect on the importance of safe workplaces.
Cathy Henderson, chief executive of WorkSafe Victoria, said workplace deaths and serious injuries had a lasting impact on families, colleagues and communities, adding that such incidents were preventable and underscored the need for continued efforts to improve safety.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the memorial would act as a lasting reminder of workers who had lost their lives and the ongoing importance of protecting workers’ rights.
Ms Anholt said her design aimed to create a reflective gathering space shaped by the experiences of affected families and the daily rhythms of the site.
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