“Everywhere” is not just a saying. It’s the battle honor of the Royal Australian Artillery. Today we stand before the former site of the Royal Australian Artillery National Museum. It once stood proudly at North Fort. This was on the northern head of Sydney Harbour’s entrance.
Let’s delve into the story of this museum. It was more than just a collection of military artifacts. It was a repository of the Royal Australian Artillery’s rich heritage. It was once known as the National Artillery Museum. The Army History Unit administered it with help from the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company.
Imagine over 50 guns and mortars. Picture associated equipment filling the space. Add numerous paintings, displays, memorials and medals. The library held over 2500 photographs. It also had about 4000 technical and historical books. Unique research material added to its value. The collections spanned from the First European Settlement in 1788 to recent operations.
The Royal Australian Artillery National Museum had great facilities. Shaded picnic areas offered relaxation. Barbeques were available for gatherings. The Observation Platform provided harbour views. World War II fortifications and tunnels stood as relics. They were listed on the Australian Commonwealth National Heritage list. A café offered stunning views of Sydney Harbour. It overlooked the channels to Bradleys Head and the Sydney central business district.
However, the museum’s story took an unexpected turn. On 19 December 2010 it closed its doors. The collection was moved to Bandiana for storage. The plan was to create a new army artillery museum. It was to be at Puckapunyal army base in Victoria. The Artillery School had already moved there in 1997. The museum was left behind at North Head.
Why the move? The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust owned the site. They wanted the area open to the public seven days a week. This clashed with the Army History Unit’s objectives. The Army argued their funding only allowed weekend openings. They also cited the museum’s distance from the Artillery School. It was nearly 1000 km away. This made it difficult to support junior soldier training.
The Royal Australian Artillery’s history is extensive. The first Royal Artillery unit arrived in Australia in 1856. They began a series of gunner units. These units garrisoned Australia. This ended when imperial forces withdrew in 1870. The Victorian Artillery Corps was raised in Melbourne in 1870. The New South Wales Artillery formed in Sydney on 1 August 1871.
Queen Elizabeth II granted the RAA the title of “The Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery” on 19 September 1962. Before this the Australian Artillery was referred to as the ‘Royal Australian Artillery’. Today the Regiment consists of Regular and Reserve units.
Though the Royal Australian Artillery National Museum is no longer here its legacy remains. It stands as a reminder of the Royal Australian Artillery’s commitment. They maximize the combat power of the Australian Defence Forces. They provide offensive support coordination and indirect firepower. They also do surveillance and target acquisition and ground-based air defense. Remember the motto of the Royal Australian Artillery. “Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt.” Where right and glory lead.