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Australia's monuments take on many distinct forms, including statues, fountains, natural landmarks and buildings. While some monuments of Australia hold a national significance, many are constructed and maintained by local community groups, and are primarily significant on a local scale.[1] Although Australia's monuments have many roles, including as tourist attractions, their primary purpose is to "safeguard, prolong or preserve social memory into the future".[1] This social memory may relate to anything from colonisation to local industry to sports. The monuments of Australia reflect the nation's social and political history[2] and by memorialising select moments, contribute to shaping how Australian history is told. Although a significant portion of Australia is desert, the population is highly urbanised and the cities contain some noteworthy monuments.