Nungarin Museum – Then & Now

  • It was built by The Australian Army in 1942.
  • It's reckoned to be the biggest timber-clad building in the southern hemisphere.
  • Oh, and it was home to firepower. Lots and lots of World War II firepower.
Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum

Welcome to the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum.

And welcome to a place with a truly fascinating history to impart.

The Museum is housed in a massive Army Vehicle Workshop building that was constructed in 1942-43 as part of Australia’s defence during WWII … well out of the way of Japanese aircraft.

Part of No.5 Base Ordnance Depot (5BOD), the whole complex was built at a cost of approximately 10 million pounds and was considered at the time to be the largest storage facility for Army Ordnance in WA.

As well as the Army Vehicle Workshop, 5BOD incorporated tank workshops, five huge storehouses, a powerhouse, post office, administration blocks and medical facilities.

There was also a multitude of other workshops, shelters, offices and an extensive car park.

After the war, most of these facilities and buildings were sold, with the Nungarin Shire purchasing the Army Vehicle Workshop for use as a Shire Depot.

One of the very few remaining large volume, timber military buildings built during WWII, it is now home to the Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum.

And what an amazing Museum it is