The Darwin Military Museum was founded in the mid 1960s by Lieutenant Colonel Jack Haydon and members of the Northern Territory branch of the Royal Australian Artillery Association.
The Association, through its numerous contacts, soon started accumulating war memorabilia from all over the Territory. Since then, several notable local collectors have also contributed greatly to the museum’s exhibits. The museum was Darwin’s very first and is housed in the original concrete command post bunker, used by the army to command the two massive 9.2″ guns nearby.
The bunker is now fully air-conditioned and displays a fascinating array of weapons, photographs and equipment used by the fighting men and women of the day. A theatrette continuously runs a 15-minute film that contains dramatic live footage of the Japanese bombing of Darwin Harbour and the township. The Darwin Military Museum was founded in the mid 1960s by Lieutenant Colonel Jack Haydon and members of the Northern Territory branch of the Royal Australian Artillery Association.
Set amongst the original 9.2 inch gun emplacements built to defend Darwin and its harbour, the air-conditioned centre of the museum is the orignal command post that controlled the 9.2 guns, meant to defend the city at long range from enemy battleships. By the time the Japanese attacked the city in 1942, the capital ship had become the aircraft carrier – and the Japanese launched two devastating raids that the uncompleted guns could not have stopped. Over the next two years, more than 64 air raids were endured with hundreds of casualties.
Opening Hours
9:30am – 5pm, 7 days a week.
After hours by appointment
Ph:08 8981 9702
Postal: GPOBox3220 Darwin NT0801
Site:5434 Alec Fong Lim Drive
East Point, Darwin
Email: info@darwinmilitarymuseum.com.au
. Set amongst the original 9.2 inch gun emplacements built to defend Darwin and its harbour, the air-conditioned centre of the museum is the orignal command post that controlled the 9.2 guns, me
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