Bali Memorial
The Bali Memorial in Melbourne is situated in Lincoln Square, Carlton, Victoria, facing Swanston Street. It commemorates the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings. 202 people perished in the bombings, including 88 Australians of whom 22 were Victorians.
The memorial was officially opened on 12 October 2005, the third anniversary of the bombings. The Bali Memorial features a fountain, incorporating 88 individual water jets – one for each Australian who died in the catastrophe and 202 lights to represent all of the victims. The names of all Victorians who perished are inscribed around the perimeter of the fountain. For the 24 hours of 12 October each year, the individual water jets stop and offer a place to reflect on those who died in the bombings.
THE BALI MONUMENT IN BALI
The memorial in Bali was established in 2003, but it has been wracked in controversy.
The monument, and the proposed 'Peace Park' which is adjacent to the monument, have been the source of considerable controversy in Bali and Australia. With no other public spaces in the Kuta tourism area, the monument site quickly became a hangout for sex workers and drug-dealers. While attempting to 'clean up' the area, the local authorities simply forced the site's social and criminal activities into nearby streets. While Australians and other nationals who lost countrymen in the bombings treat the site with great reverence, others treat it like a theme park and play space. The site has become confused and visitors often jostle to impose their own interests, activities and meanings over the site.
The adjacent land, which was the site of the Sari Club, has been even more controversial. Various interest groups have wanted to develop the site. Private interests want to establish another night club on the site. The Bali governor and other public officials want to turn the site into a memorial garden. At present, the site is used as an informal car park and meeting place for drug dealers and sex workers. On anniversaries of the bombings, the edges of the site are shrouded in flower tributes.
Reference Lewis, J., Lewis, B. and Putra, IND, 'The Bali Bombings Monument: Ceremonial Cosmopolis', Journal of Asian Studies, 72 (1) 2013. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021911812001799
Coordinates: 37°48′09″S 144°57′47″E / 37.802456°S 144.962942°E