Destination's Journey

Category: Military Memorial

  • Goulburn New South Wales Australia

    Goulburn New South Wales Australia

    Goulburn New South Wales Australia

    Established in 1833, Goulburn New South Wales is 195 km south-west of Sydney and 90 km north-east of Canberra. It was declared Australia’s first inland city in 1863.

    To get to Goulburn, you can travel by train on NSW CountryLink services or by coach. It is approximately two hour’s drive from Sydney. We drove from Mittagong, as part of a larger road trip to Newnes Industrial Ruins in the Wollemi National Park via Orange and Bathurst.

    We were only in Goulburn for one day, before heading off to Wombeyan Caves. However, we saw some great sights while there.

    Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

    This impressive tower and museum overlook the town and is a must see when visiting. For more information, see our full story here.

    Rocky Hill War Memorial
    Rocky Hill War Memorial
    Weapons on Display Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
    Weapons on Display

    Goulburn Historic Water Works

    This beautifully restored pump house still contains the original pumps from its operating days. For the full story of our visit, click here.

    Pump House
    Pump House

    Big Marino

    The Big Marino is hard to miss as you drive through tow, Click here for our visit.

    The Big Marino
    The Big Marino

    Interesting Buildings in Goulburn

    Elmslea Chambers

    Located in Montague St in the centre of town Elmslea Chambers has its façade beautifully decorated. Built in 1933, it was one of the first buildings in Australia to use coloured polychrome terracotta in its façade which features birds, flowers, leaves and Art Deco sunbursts under the windows.

    Although worth visiting the street just for this building, it’s also the location of the historic Fire station and not far from Cathedral Church of St Saviour.

    Elmslea Chambers 17 Montague St Goulburn
    Elmslea Chambers 17 Montague St Goulburn

    Fire Station

    Only a few doors down from Elmslea Chambers and also in Montague street, the historic Fire Station and the building next to it are interesting to see because of their interesting architecture.

    Goulburn Fire Station
    Fire Station

    Goulburn Courthouse

    At the far end of Montague Street and opposite Belmore Park, the courthouse is a large, beautiful building. Built in 1887  in the Federation Free Classical style based on original designs by Colonial Architect, James Barnet it is still an operating court.

    Goulburn Courthouse
    Courthouse

    Railway Station

    Completed in 1869, the Railway Station is another beautiful building in Goulburn.

    Goulburn Railway Station
    Goulburn Railway Station

    Cathedral Church of St Saviour

    Bourke Street has several beautiful churches including the Cathedral Church of St Saviour. Designed by Edmund Blacket, it was completed in 1884.

    Unfortunately the other large church, St Peter and Paul’s Old Cathedral was undergoing a major restoration and was covered in scaffolding.

    Cathedral Church of St Saviour
    Cathedral Church of St Saviour
    Cathedral Church of St Saviour
    Cathedral Church of St Saviour

    Belmore Park

    War Memorial in Belmore Park
    War Memorial in Belmore Park

    St. John’s Orphanage

    Destroyed in a suspicious fire, the St. John’s Orphanage in Mundy Street caught our eye because of its sinister appearance. Access is not permuted with the whole area sealed off, so we could only view it from the street.

    St. John's Orphanage Goulburn
    St. John’s Orphanage

    What Did We Think?

    Goulbourn was only a quick stop for us, but we enjoyed it and would like to spend more time here. The history and old buildings were great to see, especially the Water Works and War Memorial.

  • Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

    Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

    Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

    Perched on top of a hill, the Rocky Hill War Memorial and its associated Museum is very different from most memorials we have seen around Australia. Overlooking Goulburn in New South Wales, this 10.5m tall tower was opening in 1925 to commemorate all those who served in the First World War.

    War Memorial

    On entering the tower, you see a large marble memorial engraved with the names of service personnel from the Goulburn region who served in World War One. A spiral staircase decorated with photos from the war leads up to the viewing platform. We loved the way the photos told a story of the war and what the soldiers endured.

    Rocky Hill War Memorial
    Rocky Hill War Memorial
    Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
    Memorial to the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Flying Corps
    Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *
    Memorial to those who served from Goulburn in WW1. Those killed are marked with *
    Photos lining the walls of the interior staircase
    Photos lining the walls of the interior staircase

    Museum

    Outside the museum, two 150mm German Field Guns stand guard. Donated to the town following the war and installed here following the new museum’s completion 2020. This new state of the art museum replaced an older one in the old caretaker’s cottage.

    The displays inside the museum are very good, included some World War one body armour, which we had not seen before. An impressive collection of rifles from different armies and trench warfare weaponry are also worth seeing.

    Illustrated in a poster is a sombre reminder of the cost of World War One with the number of dead and wounded Australians shown in relation to the size of the countries’ population. Interestingly, this poster also shows how the war trophies were divided up to the towns and cities depending on their population.

    This was a great place to visit, both for the memorial and museum showing the impact of the war so far away from the local community.

    German 150mm Field Gun
    German 150mm Field Gun
    Weapons on Display Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
    Weapons on Display
    German Mauser, Turkish Mauser, Siamese Mauser Japanese Arisaka and British Lee Enfield rifles
    German Mauser, Turkish Mauser, Siamese Mauser Japanese Arisaka and British Lee Enfield rifles
    Australian Army Uniforms Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
    Shell casing and a cartridge carrier from World War One
    Shell casing and a cartridge carrier from World War One
    First World War Body Armour
    First World War Body Armour
    Gas mask and horse gear. Including a horse's gas mask Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum
    Gas mask and horse gear. Including a horse’s gas mask
    Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

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

  • Australian War Memorial Canberra

    Australian War Memorial Canberra

    Australian War Memorial

    Canberra’s most popular attraction, the Australian War Memorial is an outstanding tribute to the men and women who have served in the Australian Defence Forces since federation. Access to some galleries is currently limited (2022) because the Memorial is undertaking a major renovation. During this period some exhibits are in storage. However, there is still a lot to see here, and a visit is highly recommended.

    Outside and the Sculpture Garden

    We arrived before opening time, so took the opportunity to look around the Sculpture Garden. There are two distinct areas. a grassed area with memorials and an area closer to the buildings with large military equipment on display.

    Armoured vehicles used by the Australian Army on display include a Centurion tank from the Vietnam War, a Bushmaster and LAV armoured personnel carrier. Captured German guns from World War One are nearby.

    Not far from here the old bridge of HMAS Brisbane is visible, along with its deck gun. The bridge can be accessed inside the memorial, where you can walk around the interior.

    The sculpture garden has memorials to all branches of the Australian Defence Force from most conflicts. There are even memorials to the animals used by the armed forces. One is a memorial to all animals, having hoof and paw prints while another memorialises explosive detection dogs. Located near Poppies Restaurant this last one was our favourite.

    LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicle Australian War Memorial
    LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicle
    Centurion Tank
    Centurion Tank
    "Lest we Forget" Memorial originally from Camp Russell in Afghanistan
    “Lest we Forget” Memorial originally from Camp Russell in Afghanistan
    Australian Merchant Seaman Memorial "Survivors" Australian War Memorial
    Australian Merchant Seaman Memorial “Survivors”
    Animals in War Memorial. with hoof and paw prints
    Animals in War Memorial. with hoof and paw prints
    "Australian Serviceman"
    “Australian Serviceman”
    Bomber Command Memorial dedicated to Australian who flew in RAF Bomber Command during WW2
    Bomber Command Memorial dedicated to Australian who flew in RAF Bomber Command during WW2
    Bronze sculpture "War" Australian War Memorial
    Bronze sculpture “War”
    "Elevation of the senses" Explosives detection dog
    “Elevation of the senses” Explosives detection dog
    Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Australian War Memorial
    Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop

    Shrine of Remembrance

    Central to the whole memorial is the Shrine of Remembrance containing the eternal flame and tomb of the unknown soldier. The cloisters leading to the shrine contain panels engraved with the names of all those who have died fighting for Australia. This is a very sombre area, especially when you realise how many names are there. During our visit many had poppy flowers pinned to them.

    Inside the shrine, beautiful stain glass windows represent the fallen, while the eternal flame burns in the pool of reflection.

    The Shrine of Remembrance Australian War Memorial
    The Shrine of Remembrance
    Stain glass window in the Shrine of Remembrance
    Stain glass window in the Shrine of Remembrance
    One of the Walls of Remembrance covered in poppies Australian War Memorial
    One of the Walls of Remembrance covered in poppies

    Inside Australian War Memorial

    World War One

    From Gallipoli, the North African Desert and the Western Front, the displays here cover them all. A landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign still filled with bullet holes greets you on entry, highlighting the dangers they faced.

    Along with weapons and uniforms, dioramas bring the battlefields to life, showing what they looked like.

    Landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign Australian War Memorial
    Landing boat from the Gallipoli Campaign
    British 4.5 inch howitzer Australian War Memorial
    British 4.5 inch howitzer
    World War One trench warfare diorama
    World War One trench warfare diorama
    Diorama of fighting at Gallipoli Australian War Memorial
    Diorama of fighting at Gallipoli
    World War 1 AIF Uniform
    World War 1 AIF Uniform

    World War Two

    Australians fought in many theatres of the Second World War, each of which is represented here. From Bomber command, where flight crews manned several bomber squadrons, to North Africa, the Atlantic and Pacific.

    Captured German and Italian equipment, including a German BMW sidecar and an Italian tankette are on display here. Unfortunately, the larger displays such as the Lancaster bomber and Japanese mini-submarine that attacked Sydney Harbour are currently in storage. However, a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighter is there, hanging from the ceiling.

    BMW R12 750cc motorcycle and sidecar Australian War Memorial
    BMW R12 750cc motorcycle and sidecar
    L.3/33 Italian tankette captured in North Africa
    L.3/33 Italian tankette captured in North Africa
    Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" Australian War Memorial
    Mitsubishi A6M “Zero”
    Hawker Sea Fury
    Hawker Sea Fury

    The Hall of Valour

    Displayed in the Hall of Valour, the medals of many Australians tell a story of their bravery. Accompanied by a story and photo, each set shows what the servicemen endured and accomplished. Many of the Victoria Cross (Australia’s highest military award) recipients have their medals here. Many of these were donated by families wishing to have their deeds remembered.

    The medals of Warrant Officer Class II Keith Payne
    The medals of Warrant Officer Class II Keith Payne

    Conflicts 1945 to the Present

    These galleries are only open at limited time, which unfortunately did not match our time in Canberra, Having seen some of them before, they are worth visiting if you are there at opening times.

    What Did We Think?

    Visiting here is a very moving and sombre experience. The Memorial shows the human side of war and how it affects both combatants and civilians. The human toll of war is emphasised rather than glorifying warfare. An amazing experience and rightfully the number one attraction in Canberra.

    For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here