Australian War Memorial Logo
Search

Donate Today

  • Collection Open Information Close Information
    • Official Histories & Unit Diaries
    • Understanding the Collection
    • Research at the Memorial
    • Donating to the Collection
    • National Collection Loans
    • Projects
  • People
  • Visit
  • Commemorate Open Information Close Information
    • Last Post Ceremony
    • Honour Rolls
    • Anzac Day
    • Remembrance Day
    • Customs & Ceremony
    • Speeches
  • Learn Open Information Close Information
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Memorial Articles
    • Encyclopedia
    • Understanding Military Structure
    • Podcasts
    • Glossary
    • Magazine
  • Get Involved Open Information Close Information
    • Donations & Bequests
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer at the Memorial
    • Friends of the Memorial
    • eMemorial Newsletter
    • Grants, Scholarships & Residencies
    • Research Papers
  • Shop Open Information Close Information
    • Memorial Shop
    • Images, film and sound
    • Lone Pine Seedlings

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About the Australian War Memorial
  3. Our Work
  4. Publications
  5. Contact: Photographs and the modern experience of ...
  6. Official photographers
  7. Andy Mattay (1941-2004)

Main navigation

  • Our People
  • Our Work
    • Projects
    • Publications
    • Year in Review
  • Our Organisation
  • Media Centre
  • Memorial Articles
  • Speeches

Andy Mattay (1941-2004)

Portrait of Andy Mattay by an unknown photographer

Portrait of Andy Mattay by an unknown photographer

Andy Mattay was a career soldier, adventurer, and a prolific photographer. Over four decades he produced a highly detailed and illuminating personal account of his military life. Mattay photographed his involvement in the 1963–1965 counter-insurgency operations on the Malayasia–Thailand border and as a member of 3RAR in Borneo during 1965.

"An unidentified soldier of the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), runs with a loaded pack and his rifle readied near Fire Support Base (FSB) Anne. A UH-1H 'Huey' Iroquois helicopter lands in the distance."

Andy Mattay, Soldier approaching Iroquois helicopter for evacuation, FSB Anne, c.March 1970 P05040.001

Mattay took over 5,000 photographs during his tour of Vietnam from February 1970 to March 1971 as an officer with 7RAR. These photographs have since become central to the battalion’s record and memory of this tour. Colonel Mattay was Commander, 6th Military District, Tasmania between 1990 and 1993. While Mattay was not 7RAR’s designated unit photographer (rather, he was a company commander), he took many photographs for operational and record purposes. Aerial photographs, for instance, were regularly used for cordon-and-search operations. At the same time, photographs detailing the activities of the battalion and printed by Mattay at the 1st Australian Task Force base were retained for a unit photographic book, the publication of which had been organised before departure.

Mattay’s photographs offer a rare view of military life: many soldiers operated their own cameras in Vietnam but none documented the full scope of their experience so prolifically or capably.

"Andy Mattay, Two men resting, FSB Anne, c. March 1970 P05040.007"

Andy Mattay, Two men resting, FSB Anne, c. March 1970 P05040.007

Last updated: 19 December 2019

1 The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

Find out more
2 Visit Transcribe.awm.gov.au

Transcribe

Help preserve Australia's history by transcribing records from the National Collection. Enhance accessibility and discoverability for all Australians.

Find out more
The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

Find out more
Visit the Australian War Memorial

Visit the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is open for visitors as we work to expand our galleries. Entry is free and tickets are not required.

Find out more
Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
Location map of The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Fairbairn Avenue
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
View on Google Maps (opens in new window)
Google Map data ©2025 Google
Australian War Memorial Logo
  • Go to AWM Facebook
  • Go to AWM Trip Advisor
  • Go to AWM Instagram
  • Go to AWM Youtube

Footer

  • About
  • Contact
  • Venue Hire
  • Media
  • WM Magazine
  • Donate Today

The Australian War Memorial

Fairbairn Avenue

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 4 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

 

In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

galleries are progressively closed from 3:40 pm.

 

Public entrance via Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell ACT 2612

Sign up to our newsletter

Subscribe

Legal

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information

Copyright 2025 Australian War Memorial, Canberra. All rights reserved