WWII at Home

Response, Reflection & Rejuvenation

WWII at Home features 18 sites of significance that represent the transformative impact the Second World War had on Victoria. Explore our response to the war effort, sites of reflection that honour the sacrifice of war, and places that embody the post-war rejuvenation that was the birth of modern Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers should be aware that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased persons.

A black and white photograph of six men in suits sitting on a row on at a wooden table with three men standing behind them. The table is covered with paper documents and two microphones can be seen.

War Cabinet Room

Politics and Warfare

A colourful oil painting of multiple women at work on a factory floor. A row of women stand at a workbench that extends from the foreground to the background. A large piece of machinery made up of belts and wheels being operated by women is also visible.

Explosives Factory Maribyrnong

Women at Work

A colourful photograph of a large brick building on a winters day.

Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Drill Hall

Citizen Soldiers

A grainy black and white photograph of a young radio operator focused on a pen and pad. He sits at a bench in front of morse code and radio equipment.

Mallacoota Bunker

Intercepting the Enemy

A colour photograph of a timber pier with a large grey battleship anchored beside it. In the background are many small ships.

Williamstown Naval Dockyard & HMAS Castlemaine

Water and War

A colourful image of a concrete lookout and car park sitting on top of a hill overlooking a lush Australian coastline.

Loveridge Lookout

Eyes on the Skies

A colour photograph of a large World War Two bomber plane stored in a hanger.

Werribee Satellite Aerodrome

Engineering and Aviation

A colour photograph of a brick path leading to a three storey brick building. There is a manicured lawn and garden on either side of the path.

Heidelberg Military Hospital

Healing our Troops

A colour photograph of the interior of the Murtoa Grain Store features rows of tall slender timber polls set into the ground. The number and height of the polls create a tunnelling effect.

Murtoa No. 1 Grain Store

Surplus and Rations

A black and white photograph of a large group of men standing in a hall. The men are smiling and wearing suits.

No. 1 Internment Camp, Tatura

Security at Home

A colour photograph of Roses. The background is blurred but rows of white marble graves can be seen.

Springvale War Cemetery

The Ultimate Sacrifice

A large brass sculpture that has oxidised holds a bright orange gas flame.

Shrine of Remembrance

A Modernist Memorial

A colourful architectural plan showing various elevations of a building.

Eltham War Memorial Building Complex

Serving the Community

Colour photograph of a eucalypt tree against a bright blue sky

Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue

One Man’s Grief

A colour photograph of an abstract sculpture made out of rusted iron and corrugated iron. The sculpture resembles a building with windows. There are a number of silhouettes of people depicted in rusted iron situated around the sculpture.

Bonegilla Reception & Training Centre

Welcome to Australia

A colour photograph of a model of a single storey house with a gabled roof. Part of the house is shown exposing the timber frame.

Walsh Street House

Modern Living

A black and white photograph of an outdoor Olympic swimming pool. Several groups of children can be seen playing in and around the pool. A small boy stands in the foreground giving a thumbs up to the camera.

Olympic Swimming Stadium

Sport and Innovation

A colour photograph of rows of office windows. The composition of the image is a grid and there is a blue hue to the photograph.

ICI House

Australia’s First Skyscraper

A black and white photograph of a man in military uniform with an Akubra Hat standing by the window of a train carriage. Other men in military uniform are inside the train looking out the windows.

Aunty Glenda Humes and Captain Reginald Saunders

Australian Army

Veterans’ Voices

James “Jim” Paizis

Royal Australian Navy

Veterans’ Voices

Harold “Mac” Macklinay Ford

Royal Australian Air Force

Veterans’ Voices