Anzac centre a national attraction
Set upon an Albany hilltop overlooking a vast coastline which became the last sight of Australia for many Australian and New Zealand soldiers, is a building dedicated to telling the story which shaped the identity of a nation.
Today, the Albany Advertiser can reveal the exclusive first images inside the highly-anticipated new National Anzac Centre on the edge of Mt Adelaide.
It is the first glimpse inside the $10 million building, which took years of planning and 12 months to construct from the ground up.
Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington inside the National Anzac Centre. Picture: Lee Griffith
Described as the jewel in the crown of Albany Heritage Park, the NAC is the first interpretive centre of its kind and calibre in Australia.
Visitors will receive an identity card of one of 24 Australians, six New Zealanders, a Turk or a German, characters which were intricately researched, and will be guided by the card to discover each character’s personal journey.
The journey will begin with the recruitment process, continue through a first-person account of the horror of the conflict and finally to a place of remembrance such as the pool of reflection, which will constantly screen the names of the 41,265 Australians and New Zealanders who left Albany in the convoys of November and December 1914.
Packed into a relatively small space, just 300sqm, is an enormous amount of emotion, according to WA Museum creative and regional development director James Dexter.
“It’s going from the beginning with the ‘yahoo’ from signing up, and then going through an incredibly awful experience, especially through the Western Front,” he said.
“It’s almost like your emotions become claustrophobic … but then you come through to the remembering of the concept of Anzac Day and commemoration.”
Having a panoramic view of King George Sound contributes to an intense sense of place, playing the role in evoking those emotions, Mr Dexter said.
The view from the National Anzac Centre over King George Sound where the convoys gathered 100 years ago. Picture: Lee Griffith
“It’s not a story about Albany, but it has its beginnings in Albany,” he said.
“When you’re talking about the convoy, you can see where they were ... you can place where the ships were, as if you are looking through time to 100 years ago.”
Another layer of history is provided through artefacts on display, including a small wristwatch given to Albany’s Private Humfray Hassell of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, who was killed in action in the infamous charge at the Nek in August 1915.
Other rare and expensive items include a gold cigarette case owned by former Australian Prime Minister Stanley Bruce, gifted by Turkish Prime Minister Kemal Ataturk in 1936; one of only three known Lewis guns in the Australian collection and a small whistle once used by an Australian officer to effectively summon the death of the enemy.
The National Anzac Centre will take visitors on an interactive journey. Picture: Lee Griffith
After the doors of the Centre are thrown open next month and the region’s centenary commemoration period has subsided, City of Albany Heritage Park general manager Dean Lee believes the monument will bring lasting benefit locally and for the nation.
“It is not simply an Albany attraction, it is a national attraction,” he said.
“The Anzac story is something that is familiar to all Austra-lians. It’s something we all grow up with, but there are few opportunities to connect with that story.
“The National Anzac Centre becomes a touchstone to form a direct relationship with that Anzac experience. In many ways it serves as the book-end to the Gallipoli experience … that story began in Albany.”
