Mallacoota and District Historical Society
invites you to visit a restored RAAF Advanced Operations Base
OUR BLACK SUMMER BUSHFIRES The 2019–20 bushfires have been described by various experts and commentators as 'the worst bushfires in our history,' 'exceptional in size and impact', 'unprecedented', and 'by far Australia's costliest natural disaster'.By late November, every state was alight when fires broke out in Victoria, following lightning strikes in East Gippsland.
The Secrets of the Bunker film won the multimedia section of Victorian Community History Awards for 2018. The included photo is of Belinda Ensor from Tiny Empire Collective (the filmmakers ) and Dr Sarah Mirams, the historian who appeared in the film. The Award recognises the best presentation of history which uses non-print media and has a broad community reach.
NEWS RELEASE (PDF): The film, entitled ‘Secrets from the Mallacoota Bunker’ 18min 25sec (length) was launched earlier this year. It will be screened routinely at the Mallacoota WWII Bunker Museum as an introductory audio visual and interpretive presentation for visitors, and will also be permanently accessible on the society’s website
Secrets from the Mallacoota Bunker from Tiny Empire Collective on Vimeo.
The building was originally a WWII Operations Bunker, built in 1942 as an Advanced Operations Base. It was a High Security Installation – part of a chain of defence bases around the Australian Coastline. It was used by the RAAF during WWII for Communications.
The Bunker housed wireless equipment and trained operators who were listening to coastal shipping and gathering intelligence - surveillance which was further collated and sent to Melbourne.
The purpose of these operations was to protect coastal shipping and keep the sea lanes open.
Visitor Information
For full visitor information, including Google map and important information related to our facilities, please CLICK HERE.
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Opening Times:
Visitors are welcome at the Bunker
- every Tuesday morning from 9.30 am to last entry at 11.30 am, and
- every Sunday afternoon from 1 pm to last entry at 3 pm
NB: No public toilets on site.
Due to lack of volunteers, M&DHS must advise that new bookings for special openings/bus tours will only be taken for days when we are already open.
Additional days during holiday periods – check our VISITOR INFORMATION tab or enquire at Mallacoota Visitor Information Centre for notices.
Admission Charges: Entry is by donation of $5 per adult and $1 for school age child. Sorry, no EFTPOS is available.
All Enquiries: 0459 437 474 (or 03 5158 0725 on Tuesday mornings only)
Location: The Bunker is located in a beautiful bushland setting at Airport Road, Mallacoota. From the roundabout at the town centre, follow Betka Road to the sign at the airport access road turn-off – on the right, about 4.5 km south-west of Mallacoota.