The Darwin Military Museum was established as an artillery museum by the Royal Artillery Association of Australia to display photographs and other artefacts from Darwin's World War II history. Today, the museum's collection includes many items relating to the navy, army and air force activities of not only Australia, but also the United States and other allied countries. It is decorated with real shotcrete plants and other fortifications from one of Australia's most fortified territories during the war. In 1943, over 100,000 troops were based in and around Darwin. It was from here that General Douglas MacArthur launched the campaign to liberate the Philippine capital Manila from Japanese occupation. During the war, Darwin was bombed 64 times in 2 years! According to various accounts these air raids killed between 243 and 1,000 people (a plaque on the city seafront lists a figure of 292).
The creation of the museum began in the 1960s due to the destruction of East Point's fortifications. The first area to be protected was the area around the 9.2-inch gun of the command post - a barrier was placed around it. Two other six-inch guns that had been attacked by vandals were also moved behind fences from their original locations. The Royal Artillery Association of Australia has continually added guns, vehicles and other items of military history to its collection. Once open only on weekends, the museum is now open seven days a week. In 2008, the Northern Territory state government announced its intention to spend A$10 million on various projects for the museum.
