The Australian War Memorial brings together a shrine, museum and archive at the foot of Mount Ainslie in Campbell. It is a place to approach with time and care: the Memorial�s galleries explore Australia�s military history and its commemorative spaces invite a slower kind of attention. Start with the Memorial�s current visitor information (opens in a new tab) before setting out, particularly if transport, accessibility or a specific ceremony shapes your day.
Follow a thread through the galleries
More than 7,000 objects from the collection are on display across the Memorial�s permanent galleries. The gallery guide (opens in a new tab) maps a route through First and Second World War galleries, Cold War displays, Anzac Hall, Aircraft Hall, the Hall of Valour and the Commemorative Area. Some spaces are changing as redevelopment continues, so use the current list rather than planning around a particular display. The Memorial also notes that galleries use low light and immersive soundscapes; that is useful to know before you arrive if sensory conditions influence how you visit.
Make room for commemoration
The Commemorative Area is more than a final stop. The Memorial Features guide (opens in a new tab) identifies the Roll of Honour, which records more than 103,000 Australians who died in or as a result of war service, as well as the Hall of Memory, the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, the Pool of Reflection and the Eternal Flame. The Sculpture Garden on the west side of the building offers another place to pause. These spaces carry significant meaning, so a considered visit is better served by allowing time to read and reflect than by treating them as a quick circuit.
Choose guided context or move at your own pace
The Memorial offers daily guided tours of about 90 minutes, covering the Commemorative Area and the First and Second World War galleries. Its tour information (opens in a new tab) says places are limited and can be secured at the Memorial�s information desks. A self-guided option covers the First World War, Second World War and Hall of Valour galleries, with an optional Cold War segment. Check the current tour page on the day, since times, availability and booking arrangements can change.
Plan the practical details
Entry is free. The Memorial lists galleries as open daily from 10am to 5pm, except Christmas Day, with galleries progressively closing from 4pm; it also lists the Last Post Ceremony at 4.30pm. The site is on Fairbairn Avenue, with free parking, public-transport, walking and cycling information on the visitor page. For access planning, the accessibility guide (opens in a new tab) sets out accessible parking, covered-ramp and lift connections, internal lift access, accessible toilets, mobility-aid hire and Auslan tour information. Recheck current details before travelling, especially while redevelopment work is under way.
Leave with a clearer sense of the stories held here
A visit can be shaped by a single gallery, a guided introduction or a quiet walk through the Commemorative Area. The Memorial�s own pages note that the visit can be emotional, and that acknowledgement is a useful reason not to compress it into a rushed itinerary. Give the galleries and spaces enough time to be encountered on their own terms.
Sources
Sources last validated: 15 September 2026.