The Australian War Memorial’s Rocky Horror Show

The Australian War Memorial has taken tentative steps towards recognizing the Border Wars, but its conflicting messages reveal the institution is still trying to come to terms with Australia’s full military history. Dr David Stephens writes.

“It’s just a leap to the left/And then a step to the right” ~ ‘Time Warp’, Rocky Horror Picture Show1975.

Summarizes our recent history Australian War Memorial When it comes to dealing with our core conflict, the Australian Wars, sometimes called the Australian Wars Border Wars.

Jumps to left: April-June

First interviewed Peter FitzSimons (published 19 April), War Memorial Director Matt Anderson confirmed that “border wars” will be recognized:

“Because, you know, this was a war, a guerrilla war, and they had to be given dignity to the people to understand that they were holding councils of war, that they were actually waging a war of maneuver. They were under-armed, they were under-staffed, but they still resisted, and they resisted in war-like ways, and that’s the story that will be told in the galleries.”

Then there it was Memorial’s presentation (Signed by director on May 29) Query Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (JSCATSİA) racism, hatred and violence against First Nations Australians.

In the presentation, it was stated that the Memorial will focus on the following issues: ‘war-like actions’ And ‘organized resistance’not in locals ‘victimhood’but its treatment of the Australian (Border) Wars ‘An important step towards reconciliation in Australia’.

Before this letter was published on the JSCATSIA website on June 24, we heard from the Memorial. Senate Estimates On June 2:

Mr Hitches [Memorial executive director, development]: There are two special galleries on either side of the main hall through which you will enter the monument. One side of this will be devoted entirely to Border Wars.

Senator David Shoebridge [Australian Greens]: Half the Border Wars and half the pre-1914 conflicts?

Mr Hitches: This is true. We currently have 204 square meters.

This was a remarkable leap to the left: Monument for years he insisted It was stated that the 204 square meter area will also include Australian troops. New Zealand Wars 1845-72 and Sudan 1885 and the Australian Wars.

Finally, in late May or early June, a Labor MP received a letter from the office of the Minister for Veterans Affairs. Matt Keogh. It contained words similar to those in Memorial’s JSCATSIA presentation and Forecast evidence. (The author has seen the letter.)

A step to the right, June 23

On 23 June the Memorial opened its new Atrium and Anzac Hall (part of the $550 million redevelopment).

of the monument said media release:

‘Visitors will now be able to visit three major new galleries on modern conflicts: Afghanistan, Peacekeeping and the Middle East. The new space also hosts dynamically reimagined images from World War II; these include G for George in Bomber in Command, [the Battle of] Milne Bay and Sydney Under Attack [from Japanese submarines].’

Afghanistan (2001-21), Peacekeeping (from 1947), the Middle East (from 1990) were all new, and more was being done on these issues than had previously been done at the Memorial. On the other side was the “beloved” (Word of Remembrance). G for GeorgeThe Lancaster Bomber, which was the centerpiece of the former Anzac Hall for decades, as well as two well-known episodes from 1942.

Members and senators attending the opening (the Prime Minister had closed Parliament early) were in familiar territory. Viceroy And Prime minister He has made commemorative speeches, such as those given on Anzac and Remembrance Days, for decades.

PM pays tribute to G crew for flying George “Despite everything, deeper into the enemy skies”without mentioning the destruction occurring underneath. The Memorial’s emphasis on this story for many years was the emphasis on Australian heroes in the air rather than German victims on the ground.

Charles Bean The journalist, war correspondent and historian (1879-1968), who played a central role in the Memorial’s founding and early development, was well educated, as is often the case in the long history of the site. The Governor-General mentioned him three times. Director Anderson stuck six Beans in his speech and I added another a media release clearing up after an argument between the communications officer and a press photographer.

So we had respect, familiar tropes, the inevitable Bean, and a predominantly Anglo-Celtic, middle-aged and elderly audience in military uniform. Conservative, relaxed, predictable but there are some new exhibits on the old theme of “service and sacrifice”. Safely in traditional territory.

Given the Memorial’s simultaneous minor splashes related to the Australian Wars, it was surprising that they disappeared from Anzac Hall. Charles Bean’s extensive published work overlooked border conflict and was still barely present at the grand Anzac Hall opening.

There was a nod (almost a leap) at the beginning of the Governor-General’s words:

“I pay my respects to my elders past and present. and all First Nations people here today, especially those who have served our nation in uniform [emphasis added].”

There was no recognition of service by non-uniformed First Nations people, let alone the defense of the country by non-uniformed First Nations people. Really careful.

Monument’s Indigenous liaison officer, Ngunnawal/Gomeroi man michael bellHe gave Welcome to the Country, for which the director thanked him. Bell was sitting in the front row next to the Secretary of Defense.– (Bell spoke for about 15 minutes. We tried but were unable to get the transcript of his remarks or find his address on YouTube or Facebook.)

If Welcome to the Country was a small leap to the left, the Monument media release because the opening had shifted to the other side:

‘AWM is still in the process of completing the galleries with the Pre-1914 and Discovery Zone Interactive Learning Center due to be delivered in 2028. Pre-1914 galleries are currently recruiting experts.’

There (or in the director’s speech) Pre-1914 galleries Include Australian Wars and that the experts hired were First Nations.

Solution

The inconsistency between Memorial’s messages (small leaps to the left, big leap from Bean to the right) is confusing. Perhaps this is a case of horses for courses or messages tailored to audiences.

Corporate plans lay out how a business plans to implement its policies.

A deep dive into it current Corporate Plan 2025-2029 (2025-26 update, dated 2025) suggests that the Memorial has little interest in the Australian Wars:

word ‘Local’ It occurs only once, in reference to the work of Michael Bell (page 14);

words ‘Border conflict’, ‘Border Wars’ or ‘border violence’ does not appear at all; And

The chart on page 17 does not include ‘First Nations’ or Memorial’s “Key Stakeholder”, but includes the following 11 stakeholders: Australian Defense Force; ex-service associations; Federal Government; Department of Veterans Affairs; council staff volunteers; ACT Government; visitors (onsite/online); schools/training (onsite/online); Memorial supporters (public, corporate, philanthropic); cultural sector; tourism sector.

Why is the Memorial so cautious about the Australian Wars?

last paragraph director Anderson’s delivery letter gives clue:

‘We are under no illusions; This work will be challenging. ‘Whatever we put in our galleries, whatever we put in our publications/website, whatever we put in public programmes, we are aware that for some it will be too much and for others it will not be enough.’

This is a good expression of a perennial problem in public policy: balancing conflicting interests. Memorial should try harder to resolve this. Australia needs our leading institution of remembrance to confront our history decisively and courageously.

Dr David Stephens is the editor. Honest History website and a member Defending the Country Monument ProjectWe are campaigning for an Australian War Memorial to accurately recognize and commemorate the Australian Frontier Wars.

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