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Canberra at war

Eighteen months after the official announcement of Canberra as Australia’s new national capital, the nation was plunged into a conflict the scale of which had never been witnessed before. During those years of the First World War, the military continued to play an important role in the national capital’s development.

As the years passed and a second, more formidable conflict loomed, Canberra’s landscape changed significantly as new government departments and major military establishments for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) took up residence in the city. Other already established institutions were expanded to take on roles specific to the war effort.

As the seat of the federal government, Canberra was the centre of key political events that affected the conduct of the nation’s military commitment. The Second World War also brought noticeable changes to the daily lives of Canberrans. Although the city was never directly attacked the citizens were very much involved in establishing precautionary measures to protect the city in case of air raid.

 

Early Duntroon graduates

 

Collection Item C1243506

Accession Number: P06234.002

Teenagers Cyril and Norman Clowes started at Duntroon on 27 June 1911.
Read more about the early graduates...

 

Molonglo internment camp

Collection Item C256234

Accession Number: H17414

Seventy-seven children and their parents were interned at the Molonglo Internment Camp.
Read more about the Molonglo Internment camp...

 

Canberra home front

Collection Item C257226

Accession Number: 136236

Air raid trenches were dug in preparation for air raid drills and evacuations.
Read more about the Canberra home front...

 

RAAF Station Canberra

The RAAF Station Canberra was established in on 1 April 1940.
Read more about the RAAF Station...

Learn More About Canberra's Military History
Back to Salute: Canberra's Military Heritage

Last updated: 22 October 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Fairbairn Avenue
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
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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

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