If you consider yourself to be a history buff, the Darwin Military Museum is something you won’t want to miss on your trip to Darwin. Darwin was the victim of bombing during World War II, which resulted in over 300 deaths across 64 raids, and has a rich and interesting military history. The Darwin Military Museum explores this history and uncovers the truth about these raids which were kept a secret from the rest of Australia.
The Darwin Military Museum is a unique museum located in the original concrete bunker the army used to plan their defence of northern Australia during the war. It was originally set up as an artillery museum by the Royal Australian Association in order to display artefacts and photographs from Darwin during the war. The museum has both an indoor and outdoor exhibit and utilises multimedia for an engaging and interactive experience.
The inside of the museum contains a carefully constructed recreation named the Defence of Darwin Experience. This exhibition contains old videos, including videos showing the bombing of Darwin, and photographs as well as firsthand accounts, artefacts, and maps to tell the story of what really happened in Darwin during World War II.
The museum’s outdoor section demonstrates the tough conditions faced by young soldiers who fought to turn back the Japanese. The tropical gardens contain the Allied War Command jeeps as well as camouflage depots, naval war guns and mortars.
When to Go
The museum is open every day of the week from 9.30am to 5pm. After hours visits are available by appointment. The museum is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
How to Get There?
The Darwin Military Museum is located at East Point Reserve. It’s a short, ten-minute drive from Darwin’s city centre in the hire car you collected from Hertz Darwin Airport Car Hire. The museum has its own car park so you don’t need to worry about finding a place to park your rental car.
How Much?
Entry tickets to the museum cost $14 per adult and $5.50 per child. Family rates are available and there are concessions for seniors and full time students.
