Calendar of Events

One of the world's most destructive conflicts recalled through the experiences of eight people. A mother awaiting the return of her son. Brothers from Tyers River fighting on the Western Front. A Jewish German soldier on the other side. The stories of World War I soldiers and their families remain profoundly affecting. Over 100,000 Victorians […]

An international conference at the Australian War MemorialThursday 15 ‚Äì Friday 16 August 2013 The Vietnam War continues to cast a long shadow. At the height of the Cold War it dominated global attention for over a decade. Although the war ended almost 40 years ago, it confronted political leaders, military commanders, and soldiers in […]

Learn about the experiences of prisoners of war and civilian internees in Victoria during the Second World War (1939-45) and discover a little known aspect of Australia's history. This exhibition explores the impacts on prisoners of war and internees who lived and worked in camps. Between 1939 and 1947 rural Victoria hosted eight internment and […]

3,848 Australians were captured by the Germans during the First World War. Instead of dwelling on the personal, subjective nature of captivity, this talk looks at the value of Australian prisoners as intelligence sources for the German Army. Hear about German interrogation methods, AIF counter-intelligence training and the experiences of Australian prisoners, including the stories […]

Join the Chief Executive of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum to hear about how, over a 20 year period, a Land Rover and trailer evolved to become a National Museum and the spiritual home of Vietnam veterans. The National Vietnam Veterans Museum tells a story about the people involved throughout a divisive era of Australian […]

Join Michael McKernan, a historian working in the field of Australian social and military history, to hear of his most recent project which focuses on the history of Victoria in the First World War, commissioned by the State Library of Victoria. Learn about how the State of Victoria adapted to the rapidly changing nature of […]

Australians have been making pilgrimages to the battlefields and cemeteries of the Second World War since the 1940s. From the jungles of New Guinea and South-East Asia to the mountains of Greece and the deserts of North Africa, they travel in search of the stories of lost loved ones, to mourn the dead and to […]

Join Paul Ham, acclaimed author of Vietnam, and hear about the three year ordeal endured by the Sandakan prisoners of war. Through the consultation of thousands of court documents and interviews with the families of survivors and the deceased, Paul has pieced together what happened to the people who suffered and died during this barely […]

More than 10,000 young Australians served in Bomber Command during the Second World War, flying raid after raid over Europe knowing the odds were against them. More than a third died in the air.In his new book, Lancaster Men: The Aussie Heroes of Bomber Command, Peter Rees describes the bravery shown, which he claims has […]

This is a two day annual event ‚Äì Don‚Äôt Miss it. 120+ trading tables. Many displays. Antique and modern arms. Medals. Knives and Swords. Badges. Uniforms. Hunting & Shooting supplies & Clothing. Ammo. Security Equipment. Accessories and Optics. Books. Bayonets. Living History groups. Related Memorabilia and more. Saturday 9am to 3.30pm / Sunday ‚Äì 9am […]

On behalf of the Committee of Management of the Running Rabbits Military Museum and the President and members of the Upwey Belgrave RSL, I would like to invite you or your representative to the formal dedication of the ‚ÄúVisions of Kokoda‚Äù Diorama. This will conclude an eighteen month project undertaken by model builder Tony O‚Äôconnor […]

Special Guest - The Family of Harry Hawker. On the 25th of August starting at 2 PM we will be having our open day, our guest is the Hawker Family, all relatives of Harry Hawker. There are many connections to the Hawkers in the area . George Hawker (His Farther) was with the Victorian Rangers […]