“GO TO GAOL AND UNLOCK THE PAST”
Visit the Army Museum of Tasmania and land in gaol. The Museum is housed in the old Soldiers Gaol in Angelsea Barracks in Hobart and is among the best military museums in Australia.
The Gaol was built in 1847 and over the years has been a Girls’ Reformatory, a married quarter, a store and offices. Anglesea Barracks is over 200 years old and one of the country’s most significant historical military precincts. Outwardly its appearance has changed little since 1814 when the first buildings were constructed.
Every year 3,000 visitors enjoy wandering through the cells and other spaces that house the Museum’s colourful displays and collections that reveal Tasmania’s military past.
The Museum tells the stories of the men and women from the State who served in Australia’s wars and is certainly the place to learn about the British Regiments who served in Tasmania, then called Van Diemen’s Land.
Their service began with the New South Wales Corps in 1803 and finally ended in 1870 with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. During that time British soldiers protected the Colony and served as administrators, judges, juries, warders, architect, works’ supervisors and in other roles.
This October the Museum is staging a major photographic exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the departure of Tasmanian troops to the Great War. Some images have never surfaced before in public and so will offer a rare look at the light horse troops, battalions and batteries in which many Tasmanians served.
Tasmania is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, so mark the Museum on your Apple Isle map.
Soldier’s Quick Five
• Davey Street, Hobart
• 03 6237 7160
• Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 9 am – 1pm. (Guided tours of the Barracks at 11am on Tuesdays)
• Admission: $5 for adults and $10 for families.
• militarymuseumtasmania.org.au
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