Army Museum of Western Australia
The Army Museum of Western Australia's objective is to collect, conserve, interpret and display Western Australia's Army heritage and to commemorate with integrity the role of the Army in Western Australia and West Australians in the Army.
The Barracks History
The Army Museum of Western Australia is a Department of Defence (Army) Regional Museum, housed in the magnificent late Edwardian Artillery Barracks at Burt Street, Fremantle. The barracks on Cantonment Hill were built in 1910 as part of a major defence upgrage for Fremantle Harbour and were the first major commonwealth funded defence works in Western Australia.
From its construction until the late forties, the barracks were the only garrison of permanent Army in Western Australia and remains the longest continually occupied military establishment in Western Australia.
The Collection
The West Australian Army collection had its beginnings at HQ Western Command towards the end of World War II and in 1977 public display galleries were established at Dilhorn House, East Perth. Relocation to its current home at Artillery Barracks, Fremantle during 1994 provided opportunities for expansion of the collection, storage and display areas, as well as room for curatorial work areas.
The Museum has an extensive collection of militaria, including: photographs, uniforms, personal equipment, private documents, medals, banners, flags, colours, guns, vehicles and weapons. It is acknowledged as the largest collection of its type outside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Donated items date from British settlement to our most recent overseas deployments. The collection comprises many rare and often unique objects.
Gallery displays
The Western Australia Colonial Military Display in the Pre World War One Gallery is one of the finest available, alongsde the Western Australian Contingent to the Boer War Display.
The World War One Gallery consists of dioramas, maps, photos, weapons, uniforms, medals and awards, giving a vivid account of the First AIF. The story covers their enlistment and departure, campaigns in Egypt and Gallipoli, the Light Horse in Palestine and The Western Front in France and Belgium. A walk in, life size trench scene forms part of this display.
A World War Two Campaign Gallery displays the Western Australian 'digger' story in North Africa, Greece, Crete, Syria, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Our Western Australian Rats of Tobruk, fighters of The Kokoda Track battlefield and the Timor Commandos gain special mention, as do the Z Special Force raiders of Singapore Harbour.
The nationally recognised World War Two Prisoner of War Gallery tells the experiences of prisoners of war in the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres. In particular, the nightmare experience on the Thai-Burma Railway is presented very graphically, with life size displays and models.
A further gallery portrays the regular Army post World War Two, on overseas duties serving the nation in peace and war in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Somalia, Bugainville and East Timor to current deployments.
The deeds of the fourteen Western Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross are shown in individual displays located within the appropriate campaign gallery where the medal was awarded.
The service of women in the Army is represented amongst the numerous displays, recognising their outstanding contribution and service.
The external equipment display includes horse drawn vehicles, artillery pieces, tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles, as well as military trucks.
Museum Services
Public Open Days - Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Special Openings for Groups and Guided Tours
Group Function Facilities
Medal Mounting Service
Military Research Service
Membership
Army Museum of Western Australian Foundation Membership comprises:
Sponsor Membership (Individual or Corporate)
or Active Volunteer Membership.
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Phone: 08 9335 2077 Fax: 08 9430 2519 |
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