The Army Museum Bandiana facts for kids
The Army Museum Bandiana is a special place in Australia where you can see lots of military equipment. It collects, keeps, and shows off vehicles, weapons, and other items used by the Australian Army. It's the biggest and most varied military museum in Australia!
This museum is located inside an Australian Army base called Gaza Ridge Barracks. It's near a town called Wodonga South Bandiana in the state of Victoria. The museum has more than 150 military vehicles. It also displays artillery, infantry weapons, uniforms, and other military items. These include things brought back from wars and items found on battlefields.
History of the Museum
The museum first started in 1972. Back then, it was known as the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps Centre at Bandiana. As the collection grew bigger, it moved to a larger shed in 1976.
In 1996, the museum's collection became even larger. This happened when it combined with several smaller collections. At that time, it was renamed The Army Museum at Bandiana. Later, in 2009, a big collection of military items from an Australian military historian and journalist named John Laffin was added to the museum.
What You Can See: Collections
The museum has many different collections. These come from various parts of the Australian Army. For example, you can see items from:
- The Royal Australian Corps of Transport (who move things)
- The Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department (who provide support)
- The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (who manage supplies)
- The 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion (a fighting unit)
- The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (who provide medical care)
- The Royal Australian Army Dental Corps (who provide dental care)
- The Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (who fix equipment)
- The Australian Army Catering Corps (who provide food)
- The Australian Army Psychology Corps (who help with mental well-being)
- The Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (nurses)
- The Australian Women's Army Service (women who served)
- Australian Service Nurses (nurses who served)
- Army Apprentices (young people training in the army)
- And even items related to the United Nations.
The museum also holds the entire collection of John Laffin, which is a very important part of its displays.
