Australian War Memorial, Canberra (2024) - Images, Timings

Australian War Memorial, Canberra Overview

The Australian War Memorial is a memorial commemorating the lives of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the Commonwealth of Australia and after. It also houses a wonderfully curated gallery displaying memorial items from the First World War, Second World War and other conflicts after 1945. The Last Post Ceremony is the museum's highlight, where each night, the story behind one of the individuals in the Roll of Honour is shared.

The war memorial has three divisions, i.e., A Commemorative Area or the shrine, the Memorial’s galleries and a Research Centre. Consisting of two floors, the upper level of the memorial displays the involvement of Australia in World War I and II, while the lower level is famous for the audio-visual gallery regarding Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan, as well as many galleries relating to conflicts during the Colonial and Pre-federation eras, and developments post 1945.

Australian War Memorial Facts

The idea behind the memorial was developed by Charles Bean, a World War I historian. His idea was to create a place for the families of the dead to mourn over their loss and reflect upon the sacrifice.
The War Memorial was opened on 11 November 1941 by Governor General Lord Gowrie, after World War II began.
The ‘Tomb of The Unknown Soldier’ was added to the memorial in 1993
The building is endowed with beautiful stained glass, mosaic art and high dome ceiling. The floor plan resembles the shape of a Byzantine cross
The ANZAC day parade and Remembrance Day ceremonies are held here
The Hall of Valour in the centre of the building houses the largest public display of Victoria Crosses worldwide, showcasing 76 out of the 100 crosses which were issued to the Australian soldiers.

Australian War Memorial Museum

The museum at the Australian War Memorial is a comprehensive military museum dedicated to the recollection of Australia’s contributions and condition during the period of the World Wars and other armed conflicts. It was created to provide a real-life experience to the visitors about the struggles and pain endured by the Australians during that period.

1. Australia in the Great War (World War I)
Located in the ground level of the building, this part of the museum exhibits the stories and incidents on Australia’s condition during the First World War. All the major operations and events that took place are arranged in chronological order around this section of the museum, with The prominent ones being Gallipoli, the Western Front, Sinai and Palestine and war at sea. You will also find one of the World’s most prominent collections of World War I materials here, ranging from Uniforms, medals, artillery, firearms, films, personal letters and so on.

2. Second World War Gallery
This section of a museum is an account on the bravery of Australians and their battles against Germany, Italy, the Mediterranean, North Africa and Japan. Starting from the declaration of war till the Final Campaigns, all the main areas of the War involving the Australian army are presented here. One can also spot various inventions of technologies around the area like the Carro Veloce L.3/33 Series II Italian tankette and the German Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun here.

3. Conflicts: 1945 to Today
This section of the museum deals with the various powerful conflicts that took place since the end of World War II in 1945, with the spotlight given to the top 7 areas of conflicts such as the Korean War, Gulf War, Vietnam War and other significant conflicts of modern history. The Iroquois Helicopter, The nose of a meteor jet used in the korean war, a 105mm M2A2 howitzer gun from the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral are among the highlights of this section.

4. Colonial Conflicts
This section of the museum deals with the historical account of Australia’s Military, with a special mention to Australian soldiers who served in Sudan, China and South Africa. A detailed report on European settlement till the end of the Boer War is also displayed here.

Australian War Memorial Tours

1. Daily Public Tours
Timings: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM,
Cost: Free
The tour features an insightful 90 minutes tour of the highlights displayed in the galleries of the Australia War Memorial, with the main focus given to the First World War and Second World War galleries.
The tour length varies from 30 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on your choice of tour.

2. Commemorative Area Tour
Timings: September - April: 4:15 PM,
Cost: Free
The 30-minute tour of the Commemorative Area involves visiting the Commemorative Courtyard, Pool of Reflection and Eternal Flame. You will also be given an insight into the Roll of Honour, where the names of more than a 100,000 Australian martyrs have been inscribed in Bronze, honouring the fallen since 1885.

3. Audio Tours
Cost: AUD 10
The audio tours are conducted for a span of 60 minutes. The main areas covered include the First World War, Second World War and Hall of Valour galleries. It includes an optional tour to the “Conflicts 1945 to Today” gallery that takes place for an extra 30 minutes. The tour is available in multiple languages i.e English, Mandarin and Hindi, and may be availed at the Information Desk - Orientation gallery.

Australian War Memorial History

The idea for the creation of an Australian War Memorial first came in 1916 from Charles Bean, an Australian World War I historian and war correspondent, who was deeply affected by the Australian soldiers' involvement in France. This led to the creation of the Australian War Records section, established in 1917. In 1941, the building of the Australian War Memorial was completed, around the same time that World War II began. It was officially opened to the public after the Remembrance Day Ceremony on 11 November in 1941. In 1993, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the Memorial.

How to Reach Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is located on the Treolar Crescent in the Campbell area of Canberra, at the top of the Anzac Parade. It is easy to reach, given its national and cultural significance. It is best to drive or walk through the Anzac Parade to reach the Australian War Memorial, as there are many significant Australian Memorials on this route, which will help you understand the country's history better. Buses 10, 54, 81, 910 and 981 will take you directly to the 2 bus stops for the Australian War Memorial, located on Limestone Avenue and Fairbairn Avenue.