Permanent
Level 1
The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation galleries explore the roles played by the Australian Regular Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force during the period of decolonisation in Asia.
As old empires sought to reassert their dominance after the Second World War, wars to gain independence began.
Australia’s commitment to the Malayan Emergency began in June 1950 and continued until the conflict ended in July 1960. Australian forces remained in the region as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve.
The Indonesian Confrontation began in 1962 after Indonesian attempts to destabilise the Federation of Malaysia led to armed hostilities. Australian forces were committed from 1964 until the end of Confrontation in August 1966. This included a secret war fought in Kalimantan against Indonesian regular forces.
