The worst thing that can be said about the AWM if you live in Canberra is that it is used on wet weekends by locals as a place to entertain the kids. Of which I confess to being very guilty, though a five year old son who confused his story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem with Simpson and his donkey one damp Easter provided no end of mirth. It still does. The best thing that can be said about the War Memorial is that it is not a museum first but a memorial to our veterans, living and dead. How they manage to fuse memorial and museum mystifies most and for that reason alone it is always worth a visit. With our thoughts turning to walking the Kokoda Track, on which the Japanese were first fought to a standstill, then pushed back (“Advance to the rear”, not “retreat”) the presentation of the P40 caught my eye, the diorama showing a ground crew working on the aircraft as it might have been at one of the many Papua New Guinea airstrips hastily built in the face of the impending Japanese onslaught. The aviation hall is world class – indeed the whole place is of a remarkably high standard. If you have a spare damp Canberra day up your sleeve get lost in the aviation hall at least. You won’t regret it, even it you are in the company of Canberra parents looking for some cheap daycare.
How true. Museum and memorial always seem to get mixed up. Would love to see this memorial.
I remember going to this place for the first time when I was younger… Do they still have the Japanese mini sub that got busted in Sydney harbour? I remember being blown away at the site of that thing!
Hi Mark – they sure do. It is now inside and has been put together with parts of a second sub dragged out of the harbour. It has been restored and placed inside in a fantastic light and sound presentation that tells the story of the attack on Sydney Harbour. Brilliant