Gallery Redevelopment Stage 2: Post–1945 Conflicts

Gallery Development Stage 2
Post-1945 Conflicts galleries and Discovery Room

The old Post-1945 Conflict galleries and Discovery Room have been dismantled to make way for the new galleries that are scheduled to open in late 2007.

Construction work in the building will commence in early September 2006 and will allow the space to fit objects previously unable to be displayed. You can expect to see a Iroquois helicopter, armoured personnel carrier and even an Oberon submarine in the Discovery Room!

This image shows a gun being removed from the old galleries.

C.E.W. Bean Building – Official Opening

The C.E.W. Bean Building was opened on Tuesday 11 April 2006, at 11.00am by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson on behalf of the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable John Howard MP.

A sponsorship from Dick Smith for the amount of $1,000,000 for the Post-1945 Conflict galleries was announced at the opening. The sponsorship is for the Iroquois helicopter which will be displayed in the new Vietnam gallery.

East Administration Building

The new east administration building will provide more than 3000 square metres of floor space for staff, collections, photographic laboratories and a workshop to allow the Memorial's existing Post 1945 Conflicts galleries and Discovery Room to be almost trebled in size.

The East Administration Building was completed in March 2006 allowing staff and functions to move in and allow work on the new galleries and visitor facilities to commence.

Construction work to begin.

On Wednesday 16 March 2005, against a backdrop of war relics, the Director of the Australian War Memorial signed a contract with St Hilliers Contracting Pty Ltd to begin work on the construction of the new administration building.

The construction of the new building is part of Stage 2 of the gallery redevelopment project.