Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre facts for kids
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| Established | 2005 |
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| Dissolved | 2021 |
| Location | Garden Island, Sydney |
| Type | Maritime Museum |
The Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre was a special maritime museum for the Royal Australian Navy. It opened its doors on October 4, 2005, on Garden Island, a naval base in Sydney. The museum was created to show the public the amazing history of Australia's navy. Sadly, it had to close for good in 2021 because it was on an active naval base, which made it hard for people to visit.
The idea for a navy museum started way back in 1922. Vice Admiral Sir William Creswell thought it was important to have a place to keep and show the Navy's unique history. It took a long time, but the project finally started in 2004. The museum's goal was to display items from the Naval Heritage Collection, which has over 250,000 objects. These items helped tell the story of what it's like to be part of the Australian navy.
Contents
Amazing Museum Exhibits
The museum had many cool exhibits that let visitors step into the world of the Royal Australian Navy.
This large exhibit showed how the jobs of sailors have changed over the years. It explored the different roles and skills needed to work on a ship, from the past to the present. Visitors could learn how technology and new challenges have shaped the naval profession.
The Submarine Periscope
One of the most popular exhibits was a real, working submarine periscope! A periscope is like a long tube with mirrors that lets people in a submarine see above the water. Visitors could look through it and get a unique view of Sydney Harbour, just like a submariner would.
This area was all about the science and tools of the navy. It showed how the navy uses technology to navigate the seas and protect the country. The display included old navigation tools, powerful torpedoes, and even modern guided missiles.
The Battle of Sydney
This exhibit told the story of the attack on Sydney Harbour during World War II. On May 31, 1942, Japanese midget submarines entered the harbour. The main part of the display was the fin and control centre from one of these submarines. It also featured the small boat that first spotted the enemy and raised the alarm.
Famous Ships and Battles
This section took visitors on a journey through the navy's history. It had items from famous Australian ships and their most important battles. The display covered everything from the early colonial navy to the First and Second World Wars, and even more recent missions.
Boats and Shipyards
Located in a historic 1913 boatshed, this gallery focused on smaller boats and the places where ships are built and repaired, called dockyards. It paid special attention to the history of the Garden Island dockyard itself.
A Sailor's Life at Sea
This exhibit gave a peek into the daily life of a sailor. It included a re-creation of a mess deck (where sailors eat and relax) from a World War II ship. Visitors could see objects that showed the unique traditions and hobbies of people in the navy.
The Captain's Bridge
This was a fun, hands-on display that looked like the open bridge of a Battle-class destroyer. The bridge is the command center of a ship. Using real equipment from 50 years ago, visitors could pretend to be in charge and learn what happens on a warship's bridge while at sea.
Gallery
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The conning tower from a Japanese midget submarine involved in the Battle of Sydney.
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A display of naval technology and weapons.
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A torpedo control computer from an Oberon-class submarine.
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A re-creation of a sailor's mess deck from World War II.
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The attack periscope from an Oberon-class submarine that visitors could use.
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An old telephone from a ship's bridge.
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A device used to show a ship's speed.
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A display about naval diving equipment.
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See also
- Fleet Air Arm Museum (Australia), a museum at HMAS Albatross that focuses on the history of the navy's aircraft.
