Military and maritime heritage centre · 2014 · Albany, Western Australia

National Anzac Centre

The National Anzac Centre is a heritage and commemorative museum in Albany, Western Australia, opened in November 2014 to mark the centenary of the First World War. Situated on Mount Clarence overlooking Princess Royal Harbour — the anchorage from which the first Anzac convoy departed Australia and New Zealand on 1 November 1914 — the centre tells the story of 41 individual soldiers and nurses through immersive personal testimony, original artefacts, and documentary material, offering one of Australia’s most distinctive approaches to the commemoration of the Anzac experience.

At a glance

Type: Commemorative heritage museum and memorial centre
Period: Commemorates 1914–1918; building opened November 2014 (WWI centenary)
Style: Contemporary heritage architecture; immersive interpretive design
Location: Albany, Western Australia, Australia
Coordinates: 35.0314° S, 117.9106° E

Overview

The National Anzac Centre occupies a clifftop site on Mount Clarence above Albany’s Princess Royal Harbour, the exact location from which the first combined Australian and New Zealand convoy set sail for the Middle East and ultimately Gallipoli in 1914. The centre employs a personal narrative approach: rather than presenting an abstract history of the war, each visitor is given the identity card of one of 41 real individuals — soldiers, nurses, and support personnel — and follows that person’s story through the exhibition. Albany was chosen as the national commemorative site because of this direct historical connection to the convoy’s departure.

History

On 1 November 1914, a convoy of 38 troopships carrying approximately 30,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers departed King George Sound, Albany, bound for training in Egypt and eventual deployment at Gallipoli. The departure was the last time many of those men would see Australian shores. Albany had maintained a modest war memorial on Mount Clarence since the interwar period, but the WWI centenary provided the opportunity for a purpose-built national facility. The National Anzac Centre opened on 1 November 2014, exactly one hundred years after the convoy’s departure, in a ceremony attended by the Australian Governor-General and New Zealand dignitaries.

What you see

The exhibition is structured around the personal identity cards issued to visitors at entry: each card corresponds to a real historical figure whose story unfolds through documents, photographs, voice recordings, and personal artefacts across the galleries. Panoramic views of Princess Royal Harbour from the building’s elevated position reinforce the direct geographical connection to the departure. A replica troopship bow, interactive maps of the Gallipoli campaign, and an extensive archive of letters and diaries complete the immersive experience.

Cultural significance

The Anzac tradition — the courage, mateship, and sacrifice associated with the Gallipoli campaign — is foundational to Australian and New Zealand national identity. Albany’s role as the point of departure gives the National Anzac Centre an authenticity that distinguishes it from other WWI memorials: visitors stand at the literal threshold from which those men left. The centre received the Australian Museum Award for Best Exhibition in 2015.

Practical information

Address: Forts Road, Mount Clarence, Albany WA 6330, Australia
Hours: Daily 9:00–17:00; check nationalanzaccentre.com.au for public holiday hours
Admission: Admission charged; concessions available; check website for current pricing

Getting there

Albany is located approximately 420 km south of Perth. Regional air services connect Albany Airport to Perth Airport. By road, the South Western Highway links Perth to Albany in approximately 4.5 hours. The National Anzac Centre is situated on Mount Clarence above the town centre; access is by car or taxi as public transport to the site is limited.

Sources & resources

Find it on the map

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