Treasures from the National Collection

Iconic artworks revealing Australia’s experience of war, service and sacrifice.  

Temporary exhibition | 14 August 2026 to mid 2028

Level 1 | Concourse

From the Main Entrance Foyer, take the stairs or lift to Level 1. 

Treasures from the National Collection showcases outstanding paintings by some of Australia’s most revered artists, including official war artists.

Some of the featured works are eyewitness records, while others explore the aftermath of war, whether for individuals or the nation. Together, they convey the central importance of war and service to Australian history.

Representing more than a century of Australia's experience of war remembrance. From the battlefields of the First World War to recent conflict in the Middle East, each work offers a unique perspective on courage, sacrifice, loss and resilience.

Showcasing work from some of Australia's best artists, including:

• Sidney Nolan
• Murray Griffin
• Nora Heysen
• Ivor Hele
• Sali Herman
• Bryan Westwood
• Ray Beattie
• Lyndell Brown and Charles Green
• George Coates

Highlights from the exhibition

About some of the artists and their work

Murray Griffin

Official war artist Murray Griffin witnessed the fall of Singapore in February 1942 and became one of 14,972 Australians captured by the Japanese. He was a prisoner of war in Changi until the end of the war. Griffin continued with official war artist duties, creating an invaluable record of life in Changi. 

Painting Attack on Japanese tanks on the Bakri-Parit Sulong Road

In the 1960s, Griffin was invited by the Memorial to undertake a commission of the of the fighting in Malaya in January 1941. 

Griffin devoted himself to its accuracy. Drawing on all the full range of resources available at the AWM, he even arranged for a 2 pounder Anti-Tank gun shipped to his home. There, veterans of the battle posed with the gun in his garage, allowing him to accurately capture their movements. 

The very same gun can be seen today in our Second World War galleries. You can also watch the 2 pounder in action in an early 1940s training film, available online. 

Sidney Nolan

Inspired by a visit to Gallipoli in 1956, Nolan's celebrated Gallipoli series drew connections between Australia's wartime experience and the myths of ancient Troy. 

Donated to the AWM in 1978, the series remains one of the most significant gifts ever received by the institution and stands as a profound meditation on memory, loss and national identity.

Nora Heysen

Heysen was the first female artist to win the Archibald Prize and to be deployed as an official war artist. Her works are a vital record of the women's services during the Second World War.

She expresses a great respect for the many professional enlisted women she depicted, including Theatre Sister Margaret Sullivan on display in Treasures from the National Collection, and Transport driver (Aircraftwoman Florence Miles) on display in the Second World War galleries.

From the curator

Anthea Gunn, Senior Curator of Art 

It has been such a joy to select some of the finest works in the Memorial’s collection for a location where they will be seen by almost all visitors.

Each painting demonstrates art's power for self-expression; together they reveal the rich record of Australian history created by artists. 

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