AdBlock Detected

It looks like you're using an ad-blocker!

Our team work realy hard to produce quality content on this website and we noticed you have ad-blocking enabled.

Category: Army

Posted on

Australian Army Infantry Museum

Matilda Tank Outside the 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.

Our photos are available for purchase on

Posted on

Illowra Hill 60 Battery Port Kembla

Illowra Hill 60 Battery No. 2 Gun Position

Illowra Hill 60 Battery

Today the Illowra Hill 60 Battery gives fantastic views over the Illawarra Coastline, however, in World War Two it was the front line of defence for the region. With an observation post on top of the hill, the two guns placed below had commanding views of fire to defend Port Kembla and its steel industry.

Getting There

Located in Port Kembla near Fisherman’s Beach, the Hill 60 Lookout has a small car park and lookout platform which lets you admire views up and down the coast. Once you have finished here, drive to the lower car park, to the tunnel entrances.

The Illowra Hill 60 Battery Tunnels

Built to allow access to the gun emplacements, two tunnels descend steeply from the entrance. The steepest sections have concrete stairs, but be careful, as rocks and dust provide trip and slip hazards. Adjacent to the stairs are the pathways a small gauge trollyway ran on, delivering shells to the guns below.

Although dark, the tunnels have been decorated by previous visitors and almost every blank space is covered with the grafiti.

At the end of each tunnel are the remains of the concrete gun emplacements. The mounting plates are still present at both while No. 2 emplacement still has the gun-shield.

A cross tunnel connected No 1 and No, 2 tunnels, meaning you do not have to return to the same entrance. This was far darker than the main tunnels, which added to the interest in following it.

During our visit both tunnels were accessible, however both also had large metal doors. These may be locked at times.

View over the Coast From the Top of Hill 60.
View over the Coast From the Top of Hill 60.
Illowra Hill 60 Battery No. 2 Gun Position
Illowra Hill 60 Battery No. 2 Gun Position
No. 1 Gun Position Tunnel Illowra Hill 60 Battery
No. 1 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 1 Gun Position Mounting Plate Illowra Hill 60 Battery
No. 1 Gun Position Mounting Plate
Entrance to the No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
Entrance to the No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 2 Gun Position Tunnel
No. 2 Gun Position and Gun Shield
No. 2 Gun Position and Gun Shield

What Did We Think?

We had a great time exploring these tunnels, as they were interesting for their history as well as being deserted and different to the usual abandoned emplacements on the coastline. They were easy to find and parking was easy and with great views.

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.

Posted on

Small Arms Factory Lithgow

Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow

The Small Arms Factory in Lithgow is a reminder of Australia’s industrial past when the country was self reliant and able to produce its small armaments. Now disused the factory is merely an empty shell, although Thales still operate part of the site. However the old administration building is now a museum displaying items once manufactured there. In addition it displays over 800 handguns in the Hayes Gallery, which is one of the best in the country, housing some rare and unique items.

Parking

Parking is off street in the old employee car park, which provides plenty of space. Entry is via the main doors back on the street, just follow the signs. Once inside, pay the entrance fee to the attendant who will then give you a brief overview of the museum.

The Small Arms Factory Displays

The first room displays some of the non military items manufactured when the demand for guns was low. These ranged from sewing machines, sheep shearing handsets and hand cuffs to medical implants . This leads into some of the larger projects including track shoes for the Leopard tank and M113.

  • Handcuffs Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Handcuffs
  • Sewing Machine Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Sewing Machine

The second floor houses the gun collection with contains a comprehensive display of machine guns, rifles and handguns. Several uniquely Australian items are on display including prototypes and pre-production guns.

  • Taisho Type 14 Nambu The Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Taisho Type 14 Nambu
  • Machine Guns Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Machine Guns
  • Bren Light Machine Gun Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Bren Light Machine Gun
  • Rifles on Display Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifles on Display
  • Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne's of London Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne’s of London

The exit through the gift shop, where there is an opportunity to purchase die cast guns, mugs, beer coolers and other souvenirs.

  • Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifle Display

What Did We Think?

Whilst small, it is certainly a great piece of Australian military and industrial history worth seeing when in Lithgow. Another part of Lithgow military heritage is at the Bowenfels gun emplacements which were built to defend the Small Arms Factory.

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