Cricket and Australians at War

An exhibition focusing on Australia's involvement in cricket throughout conflicts from the Boer War to Afghanistan.

On Closer Inspection is a series of 360 degree immersive experiences developed by the Australian War Memorial.

The first in the series lets you explore inside and outside of the Mark IV tank ‘Grit’ from the First World War. Over the next two years the Memorial will deliver four more of these experiences featuring other large technology objects.

In its inaugural year, the Napier Waller Art Prize attracted over 100 entries. The success and interest in the Prize has set a positive course for the Australian War Memorial to continue celebrating artistic excellence and raising broader awareness of the military experience.

This online exhibition of 35 shortlisted artworks showcases the diversity and talent of former and current Defence personnel.

The Art of Nation is a digital interpretation of the earliest plans for the Australian War Memorial and its art collection. Memorial founder, Charles Bean, sketched the design for this building and its grand art gallery in 1919. It showcases the history paintings depicting Australians in the First World War. These works were mostly commissioned from official war artists, who were attached to military units and sketched a record of Australians at war.

This online exhibition focuses on the popular song, I was only 19, which gives a first-person account of an Australian soldier's experience of the Vietnam War. Taking its title from the alternative name for the song, A walk in the light green presents a range of items from the Australian War Memorial’s collection – including items loaned by families involved with the song and a series of interviews ­– in order to flesh out the story behind the song.

The art of tattooing has captured the imagination of many. Where tattoos were once seen as the sign of a sailor or a rebel, they are now widely socially accepted; many Australians, including members of our Defence Forces, wear tattoos.

Songs have an uncanny ability to express feeling and ideas in simple relatable ways and an amazing knack for bringing people together and galvanise spirt. So it should come as no surprise to discover that song and music of all kinds have always played an important role in times of war.