Category: Museum

  • Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

    Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

    Gunnedah Water Tower Museum

    Located near the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Statue, the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum is a must see if visiting the area. Parking is easy because of the car park near the memorial, or on the road outside.

    Only open on Saturday from 10 until 2 you need to time your visit ti go inside.

    The art work by Jenny McCracken depicts soldiers of 7RAR waiting for Huey Helicopters, while the rear of the tower shows soldiers paying their respects beside the Long Tan Cross.

    Inside the Tower

    The Rosewarne Memorial

    Situated on the Quia Road, Rosewarne was a small community near Gunnedah. The residents erected this memorial to remember members of the Public School and other local servicemen of World War One. The memorial became forgotten and rarely visited because of the town’s closure. Relocated in 1998 the memorial now sits behind the water tower.

    An information board next to the memorial describes its history and the men behind the names on the plaque. If you visit the water tower, take a few minutes to visit the site out the back, because this is something we should all remember.

    Rosewarne Memorial
    Rosewarne Memorial

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

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  • Wyong New South Wales

    Wyong New South Wales

    Wyong New South Wales Australia

    Located on the New South Wales Central Coast, Wyong is around an hour’s drive north of Sydney, or an hour’s drive south from Newcastle. We visited to see the historic building and street art as well as visiting Alison Homestead on the outskirts of town.

    Our first stop was the Chapman Building, where Glee Coffee have a café where you can grab a morning coffee. Opposite the café, the latest artwork was being installed. Unfortunately, these are taken down after a few months, but replaced a year later by the council.

    At Alison Road, a map of the heritage walk has been installed. This is great in case you haven’t looked up the locations of what to see before-hand. Just across the road from the sign is Tightrope Lane, with it’s footpath painted as a tightrope.

    We walked around the centre of town having a look at the old courthouse, post office and other buildings before heading off to the Alison Homestead. Another nearby attraction worth seeing is the old Milk Factory which now has a tavern, chocolate and candle making and arts and crafts.

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

  • Hunter Warbirds Aviation Museum

    Hunter Warbirds Aviation Museum

    Hunter Warbirds Aviation Museum

    Located in the Upper Hunter town of Scone, and opened in March 2022, Hunter Warbirds is Australia’s newest aviation museum. Designed to house aircraft and display them to visitors in the best possible way it’s a modern state of the art museum. By car Hunter Warbirds is 300km north of Sydney and 150km northwest of Newcastle. With a spacious onsite car park, parking is a breeze.

    Many of the aircraft belonged to Col Pay, with the museum being a celebration of his love for aviation. The Pay family continued his interest along with his aviation business and desire for a museum at Scone.

    A video running in a side room details Col’s passion for aviation and collecting warbirds.

    Hunter Warbirds and Scone Memorial Airport Building
    Hunter Warbirds and Scone Memorial Airport Building

    The Display Hall

    The centrepiece of the museum, the display hall houses the collection with space to spare. Hopefully this means that the collection will grow over time. Displayed around the hall, posters illustrate the history of Aviation in Australia. All aircraft have information boards detailing their individual histories.

    One of the outstanding things about the displays is that most are still airworthy. This is amazing because most museum aircraft no longer fly. Even the Bristol F2.B replica can fly. We were told that ten of the thirteen aircraft there could fly, with only the Mirage, MiG and Macchi being grounded.

    World War Two Era Posters
    World War Two Era Posters
    The Display Hall
    The Display Hall
    Displays
    Displays

    Bristol F2B Fighter

    This replica Bristol F.2B Fighter represents B1229 flown by the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during World War One. Flown at one stage by Captain Ross Smith who scored 11 of his 12 enemy victories in this aircraft in the Middle East between September 1917 and October 1918. He served in No1 Squadron AFC and whilst in Middle East flew as Lawrence of Arabia’s pilot on several occasions in the Bristol F.2B.

    Click here for more pictures of the Bristol F.2B.

    Bristol F2B Fighter Hunter Warbirds
    Bristol F2B Fighter
    Bristol F2B Fighter Hunter Warbirds
    Bristol F2B Fighter

    de Havilland Tiger Moth

    First flying in 1931, the de Havilland Tiger Moth became the most widely used military and civilian primary trainer of all time.

    Bought by Col Pay in 1959, this Tiger Moth previously served with the RAAF. It became his first crop duster. Following a restoration in 2008 it is now airworthy again.

    Click here for more pictures of the Tiger Moth.

    de Havilland Tiger Moth
    de Havilland Tiger Moth

    Boeing Stearman Model 75

    Widely used throughout World War Two as a basic trainer, the Boeing Stearman Model 75 taught many Allied pilots how to fly. Painted in blue and yellow to depict a US Navy N2S-3 but originally built as a PT-17 it looks amazing.

    Click here for more photos of the Stearman.

    Boeing Stearman Hunter Warbirds
    Boeing Stearman

    CAC CA-3 Wirraway

    Produced in Australia from 1939 to 1946, 755 Wirraways served in the RAAF. Although designed as training aircraft, they were also used for army co-operation and in the desperate early years of the Second World War as fighters.

    This particular Wirraway was built as A20-81, but is painted as A20-176 which was used by No. 4 Squadron RAAF on army co-operation duties in New Guinea during 1942-43. Owned by Paul Bennet Airshows A20-176 is a regular at Australian air shows.

    Click here for more Wirraway photos.

    CAC Wirraway Hunter Warbirds
    CAC Wirraway
    CAC Wirraway Hunter Warbirds
    CAC Wirraway

    CA-25 Winjeel

    The CAC CA-25 Winjeel (meaning young eagle) was designed and built in Australia as a basic trainer for Royal Australian Air Force pilots. Operated from 1957 until 1975 as trainers, a small number continued in use as Forward Air Control aircraft until 1995.

    Winjeel A85-426 continued in RAAF service until 1995 as a Forward Air Control aircraft at Williamtown. Purchased by Ross Pay in 2000 for Hunter Warbirds, it is marked in FAC camouflage.

    Click here for more Winjeel photos.

    CA-25 Winjeel A85-426
    CA-25 Winjeel A85-426

    North American T-6G Harvard

    Built in 1941, this North American Harvard saw US service until the early 1960s. It was acquired by Col Pay in 1984 and is painted as a US Navy SNJ.

    Click here for more Harvard photos.

    North American T-6G Harvard Hunter Warbirds
    North American T-6G Harvard


    Aermacchi MB-326

    Aermacchi MB-326 ex RAAF A7-047 was a training aircraft used by the Royal Australian Air Force from 1968 to 2000 In 1989, they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-9 as a basic trainer. and in 2000 the BAE Hawk replaced them as lead in fighter trainers.

    A7-047 is painted in the scheme worn while serving at Williamtown Air Base near Newcastle.

    Click here more Aermacchi MB-326 photos.

    Aermacchi MB-326 A7-047 Hunter Warbirds
    Aermacchi MB-326 A7-047

    Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

    Manufactured in 1943, this Supermarine Spitfire flew operationally with No. 331 Squadron (Norwegian) and No. 274 Squadron RAF over Northern Europe. Purchased by the South African Air Force in 1948, and later sold to US interests Pay’s Aerial Services acquired it in 2008. It has since been restored to flying condition.

    Click here for more Spitfire photos.

    Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX MH-603
    Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX MH-603
    Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX MH-603 Hunter Warbirds
    Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX MH-603

    CAC Mustang

    The Mustang at Hunter Warbirds is a CAC CA-18 Mk 21 built in 1947. Operated by the Royal Australian Air Force with serial A68-107. The CA-18 was a licence-built version of the North American Mustang. Purchased by Col Pay in 1980 it has been based in Scone since then.

    Click here for more P-51 Mustang.

    CAC Mustang Hunter Warbirds
    CAC Mustang
    CAC Mustang
    CAC Mustang

    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk

    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk VH-KTY belongs to Vintage Fighter Restorations based at Scone NSW.

    Originally operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 1942 to 1945 Col Pay acquired it in 1994 in a derelict state. Fully restored to flying condition it is a favourite at Australian air shows.

    Finished in the colour scheme of a 3 Squadron RAAF P-40E serial ET953 Sqn code CV-V, it has dark brown, stone and azure blue camouflage. Flown by Squadron Leader Robert Gibbes, the Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron, North Africa it has some interesting nose art.

    Click here for more photos of P-40s.

    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk Hunter Warbirds
    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk
    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk
    Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk

    Dassault Mirage IIIO(F) A3-44

    Delivered on 22nd September 1966 Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-44 was one of 116 RAAF Mirages. Based at Williamtown and used by 76 and 77 Squadrons Royal Australian Air Force A3-44 retired in 1987.

    Click here for more Mirage III photos.

    Dassault Mirage IIIO(F) RAAF A3-44
    Dassault Mirage IIIO(F) RAAF A3-44

    Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog

    Used as a spotter aircraft during the Vietnam war the Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog is a military version of the Cessna 170. This particular aircraft was flown by the South Vietnamese Air Force.

    Click here for more Bird Dog photos.

    Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog Hunter Warbirds
    Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog
    Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog
    Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog

    Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F

    Produced in Poland by the WSK-Mielec factory the Lim-5P is a license-built version of the MiG-17F. Produced in the mid-1950s.

    Imported into Australia in 1998 and repainted as Polish Air Force “402″ it is in excellent condition, complete with its cockpit fit out and 2 X ground attack UB-16-57 multiple rocket pods.

    Previously located at Caboolture Qld, and generously donated by Jack McDonald to Hunter Fighter Collection Inc the MiG-17F is on static display.

    Click here for more MiG-17 photos.

    Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F Hunter Warbirds
    Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F

    What Did We Think of Hunter Warbirds?

    We though this was an amazing museum, full of the living history of airworthy planes. The museum is big, clean and spacious with great amenities and great staff service. We feel its well worth the visit and we will go back as the collection grows.

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