Army Museum of Western Australia
The Army Museum of Western Australia collects, preserves and exhibits the history of the Australian Army in Western Australia. It is located in the Fremantle Artillery Barracks, built between 1910 and 1913 to house the artillerymen tasked with the defence of the Port of Fremantle.
First established in 1977, the museum’s galleries depict the history of Western Australian service members overseas and on the home front, from colonial times through to war and peacekeeping, including current operations.
Opening hours
The museum is open:
- Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 3 pm
- Sunday 10 am to 3 pm.
Last entry is at 1:30 pm.
Entry requirements
All visitors aged 16 years and older must provide current, non-electronic, government issued photographic identification (driver's licence, passport, proof of age card).
An admission fee is charged for entry to the museum. School and group tours are available by appointment and can be accommodated outside of the normal opening hours.
Through historical artefacts, artwork, photographs and interactive presentations, the museum’s school programs help students discover Western Australia’s rich military history.
The museum has many facilities available for hire for regular meetings or special events, such as a conference room, the officers’ mess, kitchen/bar, barbecue facilities, meeting rooms, large parking areas, and access to the museum’s galleries for tours. The parade ground provides an ideal space for concerts, displays or exhibition settings. Event organisers can find more information by contacting the museum.
Exhibitions
The museum has the following galleries that display and exhibit the history of Western Australian service members overseas and on the home front:
- Australian Army customs and traditions
- World War I
- World War II
- Prisoner of war
- Post – 1945
- Guns and vehicles
- Victoria Cross
Volunteering and donations
Interested volunteers and donors can find further information on the Volunteering and donation opportunities page.
- Seniors $10
- Family Group $35
Our Main Supporters
The Army Museum of Western Australia, your museum of military history, offers a wide range of learning opportunities that will fascinate students of all levels. Through historical artefacts, artwork, photographs and interactive presentations, the Museum’s school programs help students discover Western Australia’s rich military history.
The Museum story commences nearly 200 years ago and concludes with the present-day military actions.
Our Gallery Guides are trained for the position and as such have a working knowledge of the galleries and their contents.
Friendly guides will tailor the tour to suit the age or needs of the visiting group so as to ensure our visitors have an enjoyable and successful visit. Discover a learning experience you’ll love.
EDUCATION ACTIVITY RISK MANAGEMENT
Documentation can be viewed here
PUBLIC LIABILITY COVER
Public Liability cover for all museum staff and visitors is provided by the Department of Defence through the Commonwealth Government provider up to an amount of $20,000,000.
See Current Certificate here.
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CURRICULUM LINKS HISTORY
The contents and information from this museum are very relevant to the Australian Curriculum with a major link to history.
Year One: Present and Past Family Life (Pre-1914, World War 2 galleries)
- How can we show that the present is different or similar to the past?
- How do we describe the sequence of time?
Year Two: The Past in the Present (Pre-1914 gallery)
- What aspects of the past can you see today?
- What can they tell us?
- What remains of the past are important to the local community? Why?
- How have changes in technology shaped our daily life?
Year Three: Community and Remembrance (World War 1 & 2, Post-1945 galleries)
- How has our community changed?
- What features have been lost and what features have been retained?
- What is the nature of the contribution made by different groups and individuals in the community?
- How and why do people choose to remember significant events of the past?
Year Six: Australia as a Nation (Pre-1914, World War 1 & 2 galleries)
What contribution have significant individuals and groups made to the development of Australian Society?
Year Nine: The Making of the Modern World (World War 1 gallery)
What was the significance of World War 1?
Year Ten: The Modern World and Australia (World 2, Post-1945 galleries)
- What were the consequences of World War 2?
- How did these consequences shape the modern world?
Seven general capabilities of the Australian Curriculum that can be addressed from a visit to the museum.
- Information and communication technology (ICT) capability
- Critical and creative thinking
- Personal and social capability
- Ethical behaviour
- Intercultural understanding
All programs can be tailored to the students’ level of learning.
Suitable for primary & secondary students.
Galleries: Australian Army & Traditions, Pre-1914 Gallery, World War 1 Gallery, Trench, World War 2, Prisoner of War, Post 1945 and External.
A guided tour covering all exhibition galleries and it combines personal stories with important artefacts to reveal how our military heritage has affected all Australians. A chance for visitors to form their own special memories of Australia’s military history and of the museum.
WORLD WAR 1
Suitable for primary year 3, secondary year 9.
Galleries: Trench, World War 1.
A Guided Tour focused on World War 1 – a general or specific study. This journey begins in Western Australia and follows the Anzacs through Egypt to Gallipoli, then on to the Western Front.
WORLD WAR 2
Suitable for year 10.
Galleries: World War 2, Prisoner of War
A guided tour focused on World War 2 – a general or specific study. The Home Front investigates war and women’s emergence in the workforce, how Western Australia prepared for invasion.
Suitable Year 10 +
Galleries: Post 1945, Prisoner of War
A guided tour focused on Post 1945 – a general or specific study. Keeping the peace investigates the background of peacekeeping and explores some recent peacekeeping operations. Australia’s involvement in UN peacekeeping and Cold War, Post-Cold War conflicts (Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf Wars, Afghanistan).
CHARGES AND BOOKINGS
Cost of school/ group bookings.
- Entry, tour for metropolitan students $8.00 per student.
- Entry, tour for country students $7.00 per student.
- Entry, tour $15.00 per adult
- Entry, tour $10.00 per senior
- Free: Teachers, assistants & supervising parents
- Free: Teachers pre-visit voucher (valid for use before the booked tour date).
See Current Certificate here
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COVID-19 Admission rules.
As from 31 st January 2022 and in accordance with Western Australian Government requirements, ALL visitors over the age of 16 will need to show a) proof of double vaccination or, proof of exemption and b) Photo ID [as the museum is an Army base, this is a security requirement and has nothing to do with COVID-19], in order to enter the museum. These rules will apply to gate admissions and booked tours . Please read the information below and contact the museum on 9430 2535 if you require any further assistance.
Gate admissions – visitors have 2 options to visit the museum.
Option 1 – is to arrive at the museum in accordance with our advertised opening days/times . The gate will be closed and unattended however if you phone 9430 2535 and you have vaccination/exemption proof and Photo ID, you will immediately be admitted for a visit.
Option 2 – book a tour by clicking the “bookings” link on the opening web page.
Tour admissions –
As mentioned above all visitors attending the museum via an arranged booking will be required to show vaccination/exemption proof and Photo ID.
Vaccination/exemption proof will be the responsibility of the tour organiser who will need to provide a list of names of all tour members and a written acknowledgement to museum staff that the vaccination status of all those members of the group has been checked.
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Tourism Western Australia acknowledges Aboriginal peoples as the traditional custodians of Western Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal West Australians and honour their continuing connection to Country, culture and community. We recognise and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by First Nations peoples across many generations in shaping Western Australia as a premier destination.
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VIDEO
COMMENTS
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia. The Army Museum is a regional museum of the Australian Army History Unit (AAHU) network of museums throughout Australia and managed by Army reservists and assisted by volunteers.
Non-school tour flyer 0120 (3) The Australian Army Museum of Western Australia is located in the heritage-listed precinct of the Artillery Barracks at Burt Street in Fremantle. Built between 1910 and 1913, the historic barracks housed the permanent garrison artillerymen.
School and group tours are available by appointment and can be accommodated outside of the normal opening hours. Through historical artefacts, artwork, photographs and interactive presentations, the museum’s school programs help students discover Western Australia’s rich military history.
A guided tour covering all exhibition galleries and it combines personal stories with important artefacts to reveal how our military heritage has affected all Australians. A chance for visitors to form their own special memories of Australia’s military history and of the museum.
The Army Museum of Western Australia provides visitors with an opportunity to explore an extensive collection of army history. Housed in the impressive turn of the century Artillery Barracks in Fremantle, you should allow at least a couple of hours to see the museum.
The Army Museum of Western Australia is a regional museum which showcases Western Australia's role in the various conflicts in which Australia has participated. Saying that it also brings to the front Australia's role in the many conflicts that have seen an involvement by Australian armed forces.