From the Director's Desk
Welcome to the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre Website. This Website provides general information about the RAN Heritage Centre and its activities.
The RAN Heritage Centre has been a long time in development. In 1922 Vice Admiral Sir William Creswell, RAN suggested the building of a Navy Museum to display the heritage of Australia's Navy. Since that time there have been many false starts. It was not until 2004 that the development of the RAN Heritage Centre was approved as part of Navy's overall plan in re-invigorating the management of its heritage.
The mission of the RAN Heritage Centre is to display at museum standard items of the Naval Heritage Collection seven days per week to the public. The Collection contains over 250 000 individual items from the more than 100 years of Navy's history. Many of these items will be rotated through the RAN Heritage Centre display galleries over the years to come.
It is important for Navy to provide all Australians with the opportunity to view and understand the role that their Navy has played in the history and development of the nation. Until now Navy has not had the capability to do this and it is hoped that the RAN Heritage Centre provides a window for all Australians to come and see their Navy.
The theme of the initial exhibition is 'Australia's Navy in Peace and War' and it emphasises the operational Navy over its history and Navy's people, who have always been central to what Navy is and represents.
The RAN Heritage Centre opened to the public on Wednesday 5 October 2005, creating a new heritage institution of national significance dedicated to all those who have served, are serving and will serve in Australia's Navy.
I hope you, your family and friends will take the time to enjoy a visit to the RAN Heritage Centre.
Shane R. Moore
Commander, RAN
