We booked for the 10am time slot, quick check of our bags & we were on our way. We were lucky to score a spot with Dave on a free 80 minute tour. He was fantastic we both would rate him a 10 out of 10! He just focused on a few stories & was so engaging. After the tour we had a fantastic wander, so much to see & so many emotions. We haven’t been to the War Memorial for approximately 10 years, and will be back as soon as the renovations & new exhibits are completed. It’s a must visit for anyone & I challenge anyone to walk away unmoved.
Thank you for leaving a review. We hope to welcome you back in the future.
The refurbished National War Memorial is gradually revealing itself. It remains a solemn place with legendary staff but there are some issues.
The underground car park is poorly signed; it is very easy to miss a directional sign and head the wrong way up a narrow driveway. Easily fixed.
Then there’s the lighting. On, I suppose, the aesthetic side, the level of lighting has been reduced, a la the National Museum. It makes reading the cards all that more difficult. On the urgent side: a set of steps in the Vietnam section has no lighting at all and it is necessary for those with reduced sight to feel their way down. Also easily fixed, take a flashlight.
The final issue is quite unforgivable. G for George is missing.
Thank you for leaving a review and raising these issues regarding your recent visit, Ian.
During December 2024 to 18th of January 2025, signage in the Memorial carpark was limited. This was due to changes in access and egress caused by road access changes.
Since this time, additional carpark signage has been implemented, and indeed new upgraded wayfinding signage will be deployed in the coming months.
Regarding lighting, as you may be aware lighting levels are set to conservation levels based on the particular National Collection. This is why you also identify low levels in the National Museum of Australia.
The balance between safety, accessibility and conservation is an essential part of the Memorial’s Exhibition designs, and has been a focus on the new galleries that will open at the end of 2025, into 2026. However, we note the comment regarding the stairs in Vietnam and will ensure these are checked for access.
Finally, to address G for George, this display will be returned and reinstated as part of the new galleries, and has is currently being prepared for this purpose.
We hope to welcome you back to the Australian War Memorial in the future.
This is a must see when visiting Canberra and expect to stay all day - there's a great cafe on site. Entrance is free and so are the guided tours. Make sure you grab a free ticket for the last Post at 4.30pm
Undercover parking.
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Had a fantastic time at the AWM. We were the first members of the public in the newly opened oculus and cold war exhibition. The memorial is very well done, informative and detailed. Peter provided us with a great tour, and had interesting moving stories to share. Very worthwhile to visit!
Thank you for leaving a review, Daniel. We hope to welcome you back in the future.
Such an amazing museum. I did not expect to love it as much as I did. It mixes the personal stories of those who were in combat with the memorial for 100,000 who died for Australia . Each day a soldier who died is memorialised and a photo of them remains throughout the day. At 4.30pm
each day a short story of the the soldier is read, the wreaths by their relatives laid and bagpipes play and the last post is played. Excellent and moving . Take a free tour so good . I can’t rave enough about this place . The people who help run it are amazing and everything about it is special
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Thank you for leaving a review, Michael. We hope to welcome you back in the future.
