Mallacoota and District Historical Society invites you to visit a restored RAAF Advanced Operations Base
OUR BLACK SUMMER BUSHFIRES
The 2019–20 bushfires have been described by various experts and commentators as 'the worst bushfires in our history,' 'exceptional in size and impact', 'unprecedented', and 'by far Australia's costliest natural disaster'.
By late November, every state was alight when fires broke out in Victoria, following lightning strikes in East Gippsland.
Click on image to view.
The Secrets of the Bunker film
The Secrets of the Bunker film won the multimedia section of Victorian Community History Awards for 2018. The included photo is of Belinda Ensor from Tiny Empire Collective (the filmmakers ) and Dr Sarah Mirams, the historian who appeared in the film. The Award recognises the best presentation of history which uses non-print media and has a broad community reach.
NEWS RELEASE (PDF): The film, entitled ‘Secrets from the Mallacoota Bunker’ 18min 25sec (length) was launched earlier this year. It will be screened routinely at the Mallacoota WWII Bunker Museum as an introductory audio visual and interpretive presentation for visitors, and will also be permanently accessible on the society’s website.
Museum info
The building was originally a WWII Operations Bunker, built in 1942 as an Advanced Operations Base.
It was a High Security Installation – part of a chain of defence bases around the Australian Coastline. It was used by the RAAF during WWII for Communications. The Bunker housed wireless equipment and trained operators who were listening to coastal shipping and gathering intelligence - surveillance which was further collated and sent to Melbourne.
The purpose of these operations was to protect coastal shipping and keep the sea lanes open.
Opening times:
Visitors are welcome at the Bunker Museum every Tuesday morning from 9.30am to last entry at 11.30am.
Other openings dependent upon volunteer availability.
Admission charges:
Entry fee: $5 per adult, $2 for school age children. Children under 6 free.
All enquiries:
Please call us on 0474 858 584.
Please note: The Bunker Museum is managed by volunteers who may not always be available to take your call. Please leave a message and a volunteer will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Our location:
The Bunker is located in a beautiful bushland setting at Airport Road, Mallacoota. From the roundabout at the town centre, follow Betka Road to the sign at the airport access road turn-off – on the right, about 4.5 km south-west of Mallacoota.