Overview
As the centre for national commemoration, the Australian War Memorial is expanding its galleries as part of a major Development Project to tell contemporary stories of Australian service and sacrifice.
All visitors require a free-timed ticket to enter the Memorial Galleries and attend the Last Post Ceremony. Visitors should book their free ticket in advance to guarantee entry.
The Australian War Memorial is pleased to be Trip Advisor’s number one attraction in Canberra.
Bringing together a world-class museum, a shrine and an extensive archive, it tells the stories of men and women who have served, and continue to serve our nation in war, conflict and operations. Through exhibitions, artworks, large technology objects and personal records, we share personal experiences of military service.
Iconic areas of the Memorial will remain accessible to visitors including: Aircraft Hall, Hall of Valour, First World War Galleries, Second World War Galleries, and the Commemorative Area which includes the Hall of Memory, Roll of Honour and Pool of Reflection. The Discovery Centre at the Memorial is temporarily closed along with limited access for the Conflicts 1945 to Today galleries.
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The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is a national war memorial and museum dedicated to all Australians who died during war. The AWM is located in Campbell, a suburb of the Australian capital of Canberra. The grounds include five buildings and a sculpture garden. Most of the museum galleries and commemorative areas are contained in the Memorial Building.
Plans to build a national war memorial and museum were initiated shortly after the First World War, with the AWM formally established through Commonwealth legislation in 1925. Designs for the AWM were created by Emil Sodersten and John Crust, although the onset of the Great Depression delayed its construction. Work on the Memorial Building progressed in the mid-1930s, and the AWM was officially opened to the public in 1941. Several structures designed by Denton Corker Marshall were built on the grounds from the 1980s to 2000s, to house additional museum exhibits and administrative offices. In 1993, the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier was installed inside the Memorial Building’s Hall of Memory.
Although the memorial was initially envisioned to only commemorate servicemembers of the First World War, the institution’s scope was expanded to include servicemembers of the Second World War in 1939, servicemembers from all other wars in 1952, and all Australians who died in conflict in 1975.
The memorial and museum is open daily excluding Christmas Day. The AWM holds several commemorative services on its grounds, including a nightly Last Post service, and national services for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
