The unusual Anzac Day tribute ringing out from an Australian university

Across Australia tomorrow, from the canyons of the cities and suburban parks to lone plinths on country plains, the country will gather to mark Anzac Day.

And in the heart of one of Australia’s great learning institutions, another unusual memorial will honour the occasion, in an audible and visceral tribute to the fallen of the Great War; the University of Sydney Carillion.

“So this carillion was first played on Anzac Day on 1928,” says the University’s organist and carillionist, Titus Greyner.

”It is a war memorial, so it’s quite unique in that stance.”

Crowdfunded in the early 1920s by students wanting to honour the 197 classmates and staff who had perished during the war, the bells would be cast in the UK then sent here.

They would be carried by horse and dray through the streets of the city, to their eventual installation in the quadrangle tower of the University.

“Each one of these wires connects individually to a bell, which means we have 54 bells for 54 keys,” says Titus.

“The bottom bell, which is the largest bell, is called the AIF bell, standing for the Australian Imperial Forces.”

“A lot of bells that you’ll hear around the city are church bells that are rung by people with ropes,” the carillionist said.

“We can play musical melodies and tunes on this.”

Following the University’s own dawn service at 5.15am tomorrow, the carillion will continue its musical commemoration through the day, as well as offering tours through the War Memorial Carillion tomorrow and Saturday, one of the world’s largest musical instruments.

“It does play to celebrate people’s graduations, but it can also play for very solemn occasions as well,” says Titus.

Such as Anzac Day.