logo Army Museum of Western Australia

Opening Times

The Army Museum of WA is open on Wednesdays through to Sundays 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Tours can be arranged by contacting the museum.

Admission Charges

Adults: $10
Children, Concession: $7
(Children under 4: Free)
Family : $20
(2 adults, 2 children)

Defence Force Members

All serving uniformed Defence Force members are entitled to free admission to the museum upon presentation of their current ID card.

If a Defence Force member is accompanied by any other persons, the admission fee will be charged to those other persons including family members.

The Collection

 

Items of significance:

The Army Museum of WA has three Victoria Crosses that were awarded to West Australians (O'Meara, Gratwick and Starcevich) and one Victoria Cross to a British officer (Chase) who was awarded the VC in Afghanistan 1880 and later had family connections in Australia. These form the largest collection of Victoria Crosses in Australia outside the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

A unique collection are the former Colours carried by the CMF infantry battalions in WA and the former Guidon of 10th Light Horse that are at the Army Museum of WA. These were previously held at the State War Memorial, King's Park and were in a fragile condition before being prepared for display under a grant from the Australian Bicentennial Authority awarded in 1988.  A further set of historic colours previously carried by 11th Battalion (The City of Perth Regiment) was handed over to the Army Museum by Perth City Council in 1993.  These had been held by the Council since their formal laying up in 1930.

An addition was made to the above collection of colours in November 2002 when the former colours of 16th Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment were handed over to the Army Museum following the battalion being presented with a new set of colours in October of that year. These colours were originally presented to 1st Battalion, The Royal Western Australia Regiment by Field Marshall HRH The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh at a parade held at the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground, East Perth on 25 November 1962. The CMF infantry battalion colours referred to above were the colours that were marched off and retired at that parade, following the merging of these battalions to form The Royal Western Australia Regiment in 1960. The collection therefore represents colours from several successive generations of infantry units in the State.

Other items of significance include:

  • Military Medal to a Nursing Sister in the Australian Army Nursing Service WW1 - 1 of only 7 awarded to Australian nurses
  • Distinguished Service Order (GVR) to an Hon. 2Lt 44 Battalion
  • DCM and bar, MM to 11th Battalion,1st AIF (one of only 7 such combinations to the 1st AIF)
  • 2 Military Medals to brothers
  • DCM to 10th Light Horse for ES Salt, WW1
  • DCM to 2/16 Battalion for Gona. Died of wounds
  • DCM 2/16 Battalion for Shaggy Ridge
  • MC awarded to a 3RAR officer for the Battle of Maryang San during the Korean War
  • Western Australian Mounted Infantry Queen's South Africa Medals and Colonial Long Service Medals and Decorations
  • Campaign Medal group to a Western Australian nurse murdered by the Japanese on Banka Island
  • The famous 1st AIF Western Australia Foss brothers medals - 3 brothers all KIA.
  • Medal group to a Western Australian soldier who fought at the battle of Long Tan in South Vietnam
  • Important original oil on canvas portait of Lt. General Sir Talbot Hobbs by the famous Australian artist Ernest Buckmaster
  • Objects relating to Western Australians who were Prisoners of War of the Japanese, Italians and Germans during the Second World War
  • Original uniforms, equipment and insignia

There is so much more to see !

Last updated on: 4/08/10