Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre

The Australian navy history is very in-depth and interesting, and a visit to the
Australian Navy Heritage unearths this. Here you can study the development of
weapon systems by exploring the centre’s exhibitions.

This maritime museum is relatively new and is located within the Public Access
Precinct on the northern end of Garden Island., in two heritage-listed buildings: The
Gun Mounting Workshop (1922) and the Boatshed (1890).

Inside there are hundreds of objects and flashy ítems including a collection of exposed
navy heritage which has more than 250,000 individual ítems. The museum is especially
recommended for those who love history and want to learn about some of Sydney and
Australia’s great battles.

Exhibitions
The museum’s exhibitions allow you to get a feel for life at sea and you can climb
aboard Japanese submarines which once attacked Syndey harbour in the second World
War. There’s also a gallery simulating an open bridge of a destroyer of The Second
World War. There’s also an attack periscope that gives you a great view fo the harbour.
Other exhibitions offer details about navy technological development, the instruments
and the artillery and artefacts used including torpedoes and missiles.

Tour
During a history tour of the museum, you can take a break at the café for tea and
refreshments and enjoy harbour views.
To reach the naval centre, catch a ferry from Circular Quay over towards Watsons
Bay. The ferry will stop at the Garden Island dock during the opening hours of the RAN
Heritage Centre. The first ferry leaves Circular Quay at 9.30 am, and the last one from
Garden Island leaves at 4.01pm.