The Australian National Aviation Museum
Aviation museums are an important part of preserving Australia’s history. Particularly the early days of flight, that saw many of the worlds aviation pioneers set record breaking flights to and from Australia.
The Australian National Aviation Museum is no exception recognised as Australia’s only true National Aviation Collection. Located at Moorabbin Airport near Melbourne, Victoria the museum is owned and operated by the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group (AARG), a community based, not for profit company and is the oldest volunteer aviation museum in Australia. As one of the largest aviation museums in Australia, the collection of aircraft either on display, in storage or under restoration is nothing short of vast with around 50 aircraft on display and an amazing collection of piston and jet powered engines.
Australian aviation as its cornerstone
The Australian National Aviation Museum contains the finest collection of Australian made and designed aircraft, as well as the broadest, with aircraft relevant to not only the Australian Defence Force but an impressive collection of civilian aircraft as well. Some that you won’t find displayed anywhere else in the world.
The museum was founded at Moorabbin in 1965 and since then has built up an impressive collection of Australian aircraft, restored and maintained by an enthusiastic band of volunteers. Day after day they give up their time to keep the museum operational and maintain its world class collection. But it’s through gate takings and donations that keep the museum open to the public. So if you have a passion for aviation or maybe you had a family member who served in the defence force the museum is certainly worth a visit.
The museum is located on the corner of first Street and Second Avenue at Moorabbin Airport in Victoria, Australia, and is just 22 km south-east of the centre of Melbourne. (Melways Map reference 87G4)
The museum is open:
12pm to 4pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday
10am to 5pm on public holidays (except Christmas day)
The Aircraft Collection
The Museum’s collection is quite extraordinary. Particularly when you consider it’s maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers and receives little in the way of government funding. The museum’s collection of aircraft include:
In addition to the wonderful collection of aircraft on display, the museum also has an incredible collection of 25 aviation piston and jet engines to look over including five different engines from Rolls Royce – Avon, Derwent, Kestrel, Merlin and Nene engines.
If you’d like to find out more about the Australian National Aviation Museum or the work of the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group (AARG), visit the Museum’s website at http://www.aarg.com.au or by clicking here.
Australian National Aviation Museum
1 Second Avenue
Moorabbin Airport VIC 3194
