The Australian War Memorial’s First World War Galleries are open to the public after a $32 million redevelopment.
A permanent exhibition, titled ‘Australia in the Great War,‘ presents the story of Australia’s role in the conflict chronologically, covering all major theatres of operations: Gallipoli; the Western Front; Sinai and Palestine; and the war at sea.
The Memorial in Canberra holds one of the world’s largest collections of material related to the Great War.
The First World War Galleries integrate a wide variety of items from this collection, including dioramas and other works of art; uniforms; medals; technology such as artillery and firearms; photographs; film; and personal items such as letters and diaries.
Historians and sound designers have also worked to recreate the sounds of key events from World War I, allowing listeners to experience them.
Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson said the exhibition told ‘compelling stories’ of service and sacrifice: “More than 415,000 Australians enlisted in the First World War and more than 60,000 were killed.
“To this day the Great War is Australia’s costliest conflict. It is important to share this story with the nation and the world.”
The galleries reopened on December 1st 2014 in time for the forthcoming Anzac Centenary.
For more information on Australia in the Great War, click here.
Also, look at the Australian War Memorial’s homepage.
Images courtesy of the Australian War Memorial (PAIU2014_252.12)
Posted by: Hannah Schneider, Centenary News