OUR HISTORY
Capt Syd Jenkins, ED, inaugural museum Curator
1977-1996
The Army Museum of Western Australia was established in 1977 and was originally located in the nineteenth Century building “Dilhorn” situated in Bulwer Street, Perth, which had been in use by the Army since 1952. This heritage listed building was subsequently sold privately by Department of Defence in 2001.
The museum was relocated to the Artillery Barracks site in Burt Street, Fremantle, in 1995. This entire precinct has been heritage listed with several of the buildings having historical significance. The initial aim was to open a new gallery every year leading up to 2001, the year of the centenary of federation and the forming of the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces. Each gallery reflects the Army in Western Australia and Western Australians’ service within the army from the colonial period through to the present day.
In 2000 the Army Museum of WA was faced with the prospect of having to be relocated once again due to plans for the Artillery Barracks site at Burt Street being sold off by the Federal Government. A successful “Save the Barracks” campaign was initiated to gain support for the retention of the barracks site as a heritage precinct remaining in Public ownership and for the museum to remain at this site. After lengthy negotiations the Commonwealth Government agreed that the Museum could remain at the Barracks under special licensing arrangements.
Official opening of the World War One Trench Gallery at the new museum location in Artillery Barracks on 2 March 1996 by Major General Michael Jeffery, Governor of WA.
Lt. Col. John Deykin, AMWAF Board Chairman, addressing supporters during the “Save the Barracks” campaign in 2000.
Delivery of the Centurion tank to the Army Museum at Artillery Barracks in 2004
Final stage of completing the new Post-1945 Gallery at the museum in 2010, prior to displays being installed.
Up until the end of 2008 the Army Museum shared the occupation of Artillery Barracks with the Western Australian University Regiment (WAUR) which was an Army Reserve Officer training unit. During this period a comprehensive site interpretation plan was developed for the expansion of the museum following vacation by WAUR.
Following the departure of the WAUR, an extensive program of work (including the Gallery Redevelopment Project) was undertaken over 2009-2016 for locating museum facilities and galleries in all other buildings previously used by the WAUR in accordance with the site plan. The Gallery Redevelopment project was completed with the support of grant funding from LotteryWest.
To raise the profile of the Army Museum in the wider community several public events have been held both on site in the grounds of the Artillery Barracks and at the Perth Concert Hall.
The museum currently has six established galleries and a static display of vehicles and other military hardware located on the parade ground and in adjacent buildings. In addition to the public displays of army memorabilia and artefacts a wide range of photographs, letters, general correspondence and other items of significance to Western Australian army history are also held by the museum.
The Army Museum of WA has come an enormously long way since it began in 1977 and has faced and successfully overcome many challenges. This is all due to the outstanding work, devotion and commitment of hundreds of volunteers and many Army staff over the years. Without this team there would not be an Army Museum of Western Australia.