Destination's Journey

Category: Hunter Valley

  • Australian Army Infantry Museum

    Australian Army Infantry Museum

    Australian Army Infantry Museum

    Only a ten-minute drive south of Singleton in the Hunter Valley, the Australian Army Infantry Museum showcases the history of Australia’s infantry men and women from colonial times to the present.

    Entry is free for Australian Defence Force members, with a modest $8.00 fee for adults (2020) and discounts for children and pensioners.

    Located adjacent to the Lone Pine Barracks, the museum has a new car park with plenty of parking spaces.

    The Museum

    Housed in a new, state of the art, purpose-built building, the museum is a huge improvement on the previous building. The display hall is large, spacious and has sombre lighting. Professionally curated, the displays tell the story of Australian Infantry, their equipment, training and deployments.

    The museum also houses a cafe, where you can purchase drinks snacks and light meals.

    Outside Displays

    In the outside courtyard a Matilda Tank and a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle.

    Matilda Tank Outside the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Matilda Tank Outside the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Bushmaster
    Bushmaster

    Entrance

    The entrance has a beautiful wall of remembrance, covered in poppies and listing the names of those fallen in battle.

    The first exhibit that greets visitors is a huge bronze sculpture of an infantryman, which makes a great first impression.

    Wall of Remembrance
    Wall of Remembrance
    Infantryman Statue Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Infantryman Statue

    Ground Floor Displays

    The ground floor contains exhibits that cover heavy equipment the infantry used, from field-guns and personnel carriers to a helicopter. The walls contain display cases showing operational deployments, from Sudan in 1885 through to current commitments.

    Universal Carrier
    Universal Carrier
    Pak 38 German Anti-Tank Gun
    Pak 38 German Anti-Tank Gun
    Equipment Display
    Equipment Display
    M113A1 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle Australian Army Infantry Museum
    M113A1 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle
    Bell UH-1 Iroquois
    Bell UH-1 Iroquois

    Upper Floor

    Exhibits on the upper floor range from personal weapons such as rifles and grenades to uniforms and mortars. All of the exhibits are accompanied by explanations, which give excellent context to the displays. The displays show how they have developed and influenced the tactics, techniques and procedures of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps.

    Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Weapons Display at the Australian Army Infantry Museum
    Uniform Display
    Uniform Display
    Uniform Display

    What did We Think?

    If you are travelling through the area, this is an excellent museum to visit. It provides a history of Australian Infantry, without glorifying war. It shows how the army has evolved from colonial times to the present, illustrating it with very professional displays.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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  • Singleton Museum New South Wales

    Singleton Museum New South Wales

    Singleton Museum

    Information from the Singleton Historical & Museum Guide. The museum is undergoing renovations.

    Located in Burdekin Park, the Singleton Museum houses an amazing collection of local artefacts, making it a great place to stop and look around. Staffed by volunteers from the local Historical Society, the museum’s displays are well curated and professionally laid out. The information displayed at each exhibit is interesting, but if you need a more in depth explanation, the staff are willing to help.

    Museum Building’s History

    The building was originally Singleton’s first “lock up” built on the site in 1840. By 1841 a detached Court House was built 50 ft to the west and donated by Benjamin Singleton to the government in return for Minimbah buildings. In April 1862 two stone cells were built on the western side of the slab cells being 8ft x 11ft with wooden floors, to hold five prisoners each having a centre corridor between.

    Two stone cells built in 1874 replaced the slab cells had concrete floors and a hallway built along the west side of the cell block. All were of stone with walls extending 4 ft below the floor level. Built onto the west side of the hallway, is a brick gaoler’s residence & guard room consisting of a room at each end with a guard room in the centre.

    With the construction of a new town lockup and residence in 1899, the Municipal Council obtained the buildings . The removal of the old gaoler’s residence and the southern partition made a Council Chamber 36ft x 14ft with a 16ft x 14ft room retained at the northern end for the Town Clerk’s Office.

    In 1963 the Singleton Historical Society gained use of the building, enabling displays featuring Aboriginal, convict, pioneer and rural articles of local heritage to be available to the public. These exhibits have been mostly collected locally and donated by the residents of Singleton Shire.

    Monument Fountain To Mayor Munro Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    Mayor Munro Monument Fountain Outside the Museum’s Entrance
    Singleton Historical Society Museum Singleton NSW Australia
    Singleton Museum
    Singleton Historical Museum Burdekin Park Singleton NSW Australia
    Tractors at Singleton Museum

    Singleton Museum’s Displays

    Rural Section

    Filled with carts, buggies, farm tools and more, this room contains an image of farm life when Singleton was first settled. The bell from St Clair Station makes an interesting exhibit, as it has been engulfed by a growing tree.

    Located in this room is a suitcase that belonged to Henry Dangar, who was a government surveyor and important pastoralist in the early 1800s.

    Horse Cart
    Horse Cart
    Horse Buggy
    Horse Buggy
    Old Farm Tools Singleton Museum
    Old Farm Tools
    St Clair Station Bell
    St Clair Station Bell
    Dangar's Suitcase
    Dangar’s Suitcase

    Displays

    Throughout the building’s other rooms containing well maintained displays covering Singleton’s past. From typewriters and surveying equipment, to aboriginal artefacts and fine china, there is a huge quantity of items to inspect..

    Hand Powered Wheelchair
    Hand Powered Wheelchair
    Old Railway Clock Singleton Museum
    Old Railway Clock
    Monarch Typewriter
    Monarch Typewriter

    Old Kitchen

    Furnished as an old kitchen, one of the old gaol cells, contains everything a pre electric kitchen needs. Beautifully laid out, this room is fun to look around and admire the old furniture and artefacts.

    The Kitchen
    The Kitchen
    The Kitchen Singleton Museum
    The Kitchen

    Gaol Cells

    Originally holding-cells for the court house, the barred doors, manacles, leg irons and bedding on display show how spartan conditions were for prisoners.

    Gaol Cell 1861 Singleton Museum
    Gaol Cell 1861
    Manacles
    Manacles

    Records Room

    The library is the custodian of an immense amount of records from numerous local companies, clubs and residents. Many records are on microfilm, however some are still only in paper form and are becoming fragile. Available for use at a modest fee, this is a treasure trove of local history.

    Hand Written Ledger
    Hand Written Ledger
    Old Record Books
    Old Record Books
    Old Books in the Records Room Singleton Museum
    Old Books in the Records Room

    What Did We Think of the Singleton Museum?

    We had a great time looking through the rooms and displays. Although small, the museum makes the best use of the available space with well curated displays which are all well maintained.

    A great place to visit if you are passing through town, and a place all locals should visit to understand the town’s history.

    Our photos are available for purchase on

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Newcastle Street Art

    Newcastle Street Art

    There are several places to find street art in Newcastle, although it is not as widespread as in other cities. In the city centre there is a collection in Morgan and Newcomen streets.

    Civic Lane near the old Civic Railway Station also has some interesting art works on the backs of some buildings.

    Further afield, you can find some great pieces at Hamilton and Wallsend.

    In addition to the street art, Newcastle has some amazing sculptures scattered around the city, so keep an eye out for them.

    New Street Art March 2021

    • Street Art in Darby Street
      Street Art in Darby Street
    • Street Art on Steel St
      Street Art on Steel St
    • Street Art on Steel St
      Street Art on Steel St Newcastle

    City Centre Street Art

    • Street Art Morgan St Newcastle
      Street Art Morgan St
    • Motorbike Street Art 3 Morgan St Newcastle
      Motorbike Street Art 3 Morgan St
    • Sushi Street Art Morgan St Newcastle
      Sushi Street Art Morgan St
    • Bird Street Art 3 Morgan St Newcastle
      Bird Street Art 3 Morgan St Newcastle
    • Street Art 14 Thorn St Newcastle
      14 Thorn St Newcastle
    • Old Masonic Lodge 14 Thorn St Newcastle
      Old Masonic Lodge 14 Thorn St Newcastle
    • Street Art Thorn St Newcastle
      Street Art Thorn St Newcastle
    • Street Art Laing Street Newcastle
      Mosaic Laing Street Newcastle
    • Street Art Laing Street Newcastle
      Mosaic Laing Street Newcastle
    • Street Art Laing Street Newcastle
      Street Art Laing Street Newcastle
    • The Painter Street Art Union Lane Newcastle
      The Painter Street Art Union Lane Newcastle
    • The Cleaner Street Art Union Lane Newcastle
      The Cleaner Street Art Union Lane Newcastle
    • Old Post Office Sculpture Cnr Hunter and Bolton Streets Newcastle
      Old Post Office Sculpture Cnr Hunter and Bolton Streets Newcastle
    • Street Art
      Street Art 525 Hunter St
    • Raging Bull Street Art
      Raging Bull Street Art TAFE NSW Hunter St
    • David Bowie Street Art
      David Bowie Street Art Hunter St.
    • Wolf Street Art 424 King St Newcastle
      Wolf Street Art 424 King St Newcastle
    • Skull Street Art 402 King St Newcastle
      Skull Street Art 402 King St Newcastle
    • Rear of Rydges Newcastle, Workshop Way
      Rear of Rydges Newcastle, Workshop Way
    • Carpark Art
      Carpark Art 291 King St

    Newcastle’s Pillar People

    One of Newcastle’s initiatives to brighten up the city centre, is the Pillar People. These telecommunications pillars have been cleverly painted to represent local identities, or reflect the businesses they are located near.

    There are over a dozen of them, see if you can find them all.

    • Pillar People Postman
      Pillar People Postman
    • Pillar People Judge
      Pillar People Judge
    • Pillar People Groom in Penguin Suit
      Groom in Penguin Suit
    • Pillar People
      Pillar People
    • Pillar People Double Bass
      Pillar People Double Bass
    • Pillar People Super G
      Super G
    • Pillar People The Bride
      Pillar People The Bride
    • Pillar People The Bride
      Pillar People The Bride
    • The Pillar People Policeman and Dog
      Policeman and Dog Pillar People
    • The Pillar People Chef
      The Pillar People Chef
    • The Pillar People Cnr Hunter and Watt Streets
      The Pillar People Cnr Hunter and Watt Streets
    • Pillar People Street Art Outside Frontline Hobbies Hunter St
    • Waitress Pillar People Street Art
      Waitress Pillar People
    • Lord Mayor Joy Cumming Pillar People Street Art
      Lord Mayor Joy Cumming Pillar People
    • Pillar People Ice Skater
      Pillar People Ice Skater
    • Pillar People Ice Skater
      Pillar People Ice Skater

    Painted Power Boxes

    In a similar initiative to the Pillar People, electrical boxes around the city have been decorated with nautical themes. They brighten up an otherwise dull box. Look for the amusing mice, painted on some.

    • Angelfish Power Box
      Angelfish Power Box
    • Angelfish Power Box
      Angelfish Power Box
    • Seal Power Box
      Seal Power Box
    • Power Box
      Power Box
    • Penguin Power Box
      Penguin Power Box
    • Penguin Power Box
      Penguin Power Box
    • Deep Sea Power Box
      Deep Sea Power Box
    • Angel Fish Power Box
      Angel Fish Power Box
    • Hammerhead Shark Power Box
      Hammerhead Shark Power Box
    • Dolphin Power Box
      Dolphin Power Box
    • Octopus Power Box
      Octopus Power Box
    • Yellow Roses Power Box
      Yellow Roses Power Box
    • White Roses Power Box
      White Roses Power Box
    • White Roses Power Box
      White Roses Power Box
    • Purple Roses Power Box
      Purple Roses Power Box
    • BNB Powerbox
      BNB Powerbox
    • Library Power Box
      Library Power Box
    • Chinese Dragon Power Box
      Chinese Dragon Power Box
    • Telephone Power Box
      Telephone Power Box
    • Apartment Power Box
      Apartment Power Box
    • Apartment Power Box
      Apartment Power Box
    • Telephone Power Box
      Telephone Power Box
    • Wally Wombat Power Box
      Wally Wombat Power Box

    Newcastle Sculptures

    • Climbers Sculptures 434 King St Newcastle
      Climbers Sculptures 434 King St Newcastle
    • Sculpture Evolution 1 Scott St Newcastle
      Sculpture Evolution 1 Scott St Newcastle
    • Paparazzi Sculpture 364 Hunter St Newcastle
      Paparazzi Sculpture 364 Hunter St Newcastle
    • Joy Cummins Statue Lord Mayor of Newcastle 1974-84, and Australia's first female Lord Mayor
      Joy Cummins Statue Lord Mayor of Newcastle 1974-84, and Australia’s first female Lord Mayor Civic Station

    Destiny Monument

    Located on Newcastle Harbour on Dyke Point, Carrington, the Destiny Monument is difficult to reach because of its location. Dyke Point is part of the Newcastle Port Authority’s operating area with no public access permitted. The closest viewpoint from land is the Honeysuckle Footpath at Honeysuckle, where you can look across the harbour to the statue.

    This nine metre tall bronze statue commemorates the 200th anniversary of Newcastle Port operations and was inspired by the figureheads of early sailing ships.

    Destiny Statue on Newcastle Harbour
    Destiny Statue on Newcastle Harbour

    Hamilton and Wallsend Street Art

    Located further from the city centre, these art works a more difficult to get to, as you will need a car. If driving past them, they are worth a stop to admire, as they brighten up and add interest to otherwise dull buildings.

    • Elephant Street Art
      Elephant Street Art 8 Donald St, Hamilton
    • Donald St Hamilton Opposite the Veterinary Clinic
      Donald St Hamilton Opposite the Veterinary Clinic
    • Donald St Hamilton Opposite the Veterinary Clinic
      Donald St Hamilton Opposite the Veterinary Clinic
    • Aboriginal Themed Artwork Smith Park 31 Boreas Rd, Hamilton North
      Aboriginal Themed Artwork Smith Park 31 Boreas Rd, Hamilton North
    • Aboriginal Themed Artwork Smith Park 31 Boreas Rd, Hamilton North
      Aboriginal Themed Artwork Smith Park 31 Boreas Rd, Hamilton North
    • Hofmann Engineering 44 Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow
      Hofmann Engineering 44 Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow
    • Ye Olde Pub Artwork Cnr Metcalfe and Thomas Streets Wallsend
      Ye Olde Pub Artwork Cnr Metcalfe and Thomas Streets Wallsend

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

    Our photos are available for purchase on