RAN Heritage Centre

• From the Director's Desk
• What to See
• Facilities and Services
• Where Is It?
• General Enquiries

RAN Heritage Centre Main Building

RAN Heritage Centre Main Entrance

RAN Heritage Centre Lobby

Main Gallery Entrance

Time Line and Ceremonial Silver Drums Display

Business on Great Waters

Naval Technology

The 'Rabaul' Gun

Small Arms

Mezzanine Level

The Uniform

The 'Run Ashore'

Navy 'Hard Hat' Diving Equipment

Navy 'Hard Hat' Diving Equipment

'The Boys'

The WRANS 1941-1985

'The Mess Deck'

Sealed Patterns

Personal Stories

Salthorse Café (Outdoor)

8 inch Gun Barrel – HMAS Australia (II)

Surface Torpedo Launcher

Ikara ASW Weapon System

Model: Garden Island 1940

Half Ship Models

Shipwright Tool Display

RAN Heritage Centre brochure.

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Since opening over 100,000 visitors have enjoyed and experienced the ‘In Peace and War’ exhibition as well as sampling the fine fare offered by the Salthorse Café with magnificent Sydney Harbour as a backdrop. I have appreciated greatly all the kind remarks on the exhibition offered by Centre visitors and on this website.

The Centre continues to rotate and refresh displays in both the Main Gallery and Open Gallery. The recent installation of the ‘HMAS Sydney Found’, National Legacy’ and Rare Books’ exhibits with items not seen by the public before have been well received by our patrons. An upcoming exhibition between June and October 2010 will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the RAN Hydrographic Service. Also in October 2010 the Centre and Public Access Precinct will again be part of the Crave Sydney Festival Island Hopping event. This proved to be very popular in 2009 and will be bigger and better in 2010.

I would also like to thank ex-serving members or their families who have generously donated personal items to the Naval Heritage Collection. Although the Collection has criteria for accepting donations we are always seeking items that will add further to the story of the RAN. Although the Naval Heritage Collection does not purchase heritage items it does offer tax-deductibility for donated items valued under the Commonwealth’s Cultural Gifts Program.

I have received many e-mails requesting information on the service history of a relative or details on a previous ship of the RAN. The best source for information on the service records of ex-members is held by the Australian National Archives whereas the best information on ships’ histories is held by the Navy History Directorate at Navy’s Sea Power Centre in Canberra which can be contacted through the History section of the Navy website.

The RAN Heritage Centre and its sister museums, the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Museum of HMAS Cerberus have become important institutions through which the story of Australia’s Navy is available to the people it serves seven days per week. I would encourage all to take the opportunity to visit your Navy’s museums and spend an enjoyable and interesting day with us.

David Michael,
Captain, RAN
Director
Naval Heritage Collection

The RAN Heritage Centre exhibits the physical history of Australia's Navy. Displays range from large weapon systems to personal momentos representing the developments and events in Navy over more than 100 years.

The Displays

Visitors to the RAN Heritage Centre will be able to enjoy seeing, touching and listening to a range of displays that provide an experience of Navy.

The Battle of Sydney

View the conning tower of one of the Japanese midget submarines that attacked Sydney Harbour in World War II and watch the battle unfold on interactive Audio/Visual. See the Boom Boat that first raised the alarm on 31 May 1942.

'In Which We Serve'

View a variety of items from the ships and battles of Navy's history. Artefacts include those from the colonial Navies, Sydney/Emden - Navy's first victory at sea, the struggles of World War II, the Cold War and the Persian Gulf.

'A Sailors Life For Me'

Gain a greater understanding of what it was and is like to live at sea in a warship. View a Mess Deck from World War II (hammocks and all), see the traditions and pastimes of Navy and how they reinforce the spirit of a fighting Service.

'The Bridge'

Stand in a simulated open bridge of a World War II destroyer. Touch original equipment that was used over 60 years ago. You to can be a Captain, Officer of the Watch, Quartermaster or Yeoman.

The Professions of Navy

See how Navy's people have 'done the job' at sea over the years. From gunnery to stores, from navigation to aviation, all are included in this display of how the 'profession' has changed and developed over a century of naval warfare.

'The Periscope'

Get a submariner's view of Sydney Harbour through the only fully operational attack periscope available for public use in Australia.

Naval Technology & Ordnance

See how technological developments have been applied to the naval environment. Precision instruments for navigating and gunnery and a range of ordnance used in naval warfare from shells to torpedoes and missiles.

'Boats and Dockyards'

Without the dockyards, Navy goes nowhere. Artefacts include original workers tools from the early 20th Century and a range of items that track the history of warship construction and repair in Australia.

HMAS Sydney Found

The 2008 discovery of the HMAS Sydney (II) and HSK Kormoran wrecks ended one of the greatest maritime mysteries. The Sydney Found exhibit contains poignant reminders of Sydney and her crew of 645 – the most grievous loss in the Navy’s long history.

A National Legacy

View unique artefacts presented to the Navy over the last 100 years. Items include a sledge from Captain R.F.Scott’s tragic expedition to the Antarctic, a silver plate from Lord Nelson’s Copenhagen setting and the plotting table used by Captain Cook during his second and third voyages in HMS Resolution.

Rare Books

A range of rare and important first editions from the 18th and 19th centuries are displayed. Books displayed include: Flinder’s ‘Terra Australis’ (1814); Cook’s ‘Voyages of Discovery’ (1781); Steel’s ‘Handbook on Rigging and Seamanship’ (1789); and Philip’s Voyage to Botany Bay’ (1789) – the first book published about the foundation of European settlement of Australia.

A range of facilities and services that are available to the public beyond the exhibition galleries themselves.

Salthorse Cafe

The Salthorse Café provides all visitors with the opportunity to enjoy a light meal, coffee or cold drink on a unique foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Surrounded by artefacts of Navy's heritage, watch the boats pass by and the changing moods of the harbour in this most idyllic location.

Salthorse Cafe.

Salthorse Cafe's outdoor area.

Tingira Room

The Tingira Room is named for HMAS Tingira, an ex-clipper ship that was commissioned by Navy in 1912 and was anchored at Rose Bay until 1929. Tingira was used as a training ship for boy seaman between the ages of 12 and 15.

The Tingira Room is a modern conference facility seating up to 70 persons and may be hired for a small fee. The Tingira Room is ideal for meetings, leadership retreats or educational activities all within a unique location. Bookings can be made by contacting the RAN Heritage Centre.

Heritage Centre - Function Hire

The Open Gallery within the RAN Heritage Centre can be hired as a function venue. All functions are held outside the normal opening hours of the Centre and the highest level of function possible is a Cocktail Party for 250. For further details contact the RAN Heritage Centre Functions Manager.

Yours to Enjoy

The RAN Heritage Centre is a unique facility within one of the most historic and beautiful locations on the harbour and is available for the enjoyment of all.

Public Access Precinct

The RAN Heritage Centre is located within the Garden Island Public Access Precinct. The Public Access Precinct has a number of relics from Garden Island's past including the earliest known graffiti in Australia (January 1788) from when Fredrick Meredith, a First Fleet sailor, carved his initials into a sandstone rock - and they are still there.

The Public Access Precinct also includes fortifications from the colonial period, the first grass tennis court in Australia (not for public use), a heritage rose garden, 150 year old trees, beautiful grass verges, and picnic tables and seating.

The ex-Main Signal Building, which once controlled the movement of naval vessels in and out of the harbour, has had its roof converted to a viewing platform. From there visitors can enjoy a spectacular 360 degree view of Sydney Harbour.

Access

The RAN Heritage Centre is located within the Public Access Precinct on the northern end of Garden Island. The Centre is housed in two heritage-listed buildings: The Gun Mounting Workshop (1922) and the Boatshed (1890).

The Public Access Precinct is itself of heritage significance and includes historic gardens, heritage locations and has panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.

Disabled Access

The RAN Heritage Centre and the Public Access Precinct have been designed to allow full access to the disabled.

Opening Times

The RAN Heritage Centre is open from 9:30am to 3:30pm daily except for Australia Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.

Map.

How To Get There

There are two ways for a visitor to access the RAN Heritage Centre and the Garden Island Public Access Precinct: Sydney Ferry and Bus.

Bus Tours

Bus tour groups that visit the RAN Heritage Centre are permitted to transit Garden Island Dockyard in their own bus. There is no bus transport provided by Navy. Additional directions and maps are available from Google Maps.

Sydney Ferry

In collaboration with Sydney Ferries Corporation, pedestrian visitors to the RAN Heritage Centre arrive by Sydney Ferry using the Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay route. The ferries will stop at the Garden Island Wharf during RAN Heritage Centre opening hours only. All pedestrian visitors are to depart the Public Access Precinct by the last ferry each day.

Restrictions

Tour bus operators are to ensure passengers do not disembark until inside the RAN Heritage Centre precinct.

Due to security requirements there is NO pedestrian access or private vehicle access to or from the RAN Heritage Centre via HMAS Kuttabul Garden Island Dockyard.

Private vessels are NOT permitted to enter or anchor within the buoyed area marking the extent of Naval Waters around Garden Island. Private vessels are not permitted to land passengers or tie-up at the Garden Island Wharf.

Ferry Timetables

If you are combining your ferry travel with other modes of public transport, check out the trip planner at 131500.com.au or go directly to the CityRail and Sydney Buses websites.

Passengers are advised to check wharf indicators on the day of travel and to be ready for boarding 5 minutes prior to the departure time. Additional time is required to purchase your ticket.

Entry Fees

Entry for children is free. Adult entry is also free to all areas of the RAN Heritage Centre and Garden Island Public Access Precinct except for the Special Exhibition Gallery (Building 8). Entry to the Special Exhibition Gallery is $5.00.

Please be advised, there are no ATM or EFTPOS facilities on Garden Island. The Salthorse Cafe will accept cash only.

Bell from HMAS Australia.