Nungarin Heritage Machinery and Army Museum

The Nungarin Heritage  Machinery and Army Museum is housed in an original massive Army Vehicle workshop building constructed in Nungarin in 1942-43 as part of Australia`s defence during WWII.  

The huge building was part of No5 Base Ordnance Depot (5BOD)

Which was considered to be the largest storage facility for the Army Ordnance in Western Australia at the time, built at a total cost of approximately 10 million pounds?

5 BOD incorporated the Army Vehicle Workshop, Tank Workshops,   5 huge storehouses, Powerhouse, Post Office, Administration blocks, Medical facilities, as well as a multitude of other workshops, Shelters, Offices, and an extensive vehicle park.

The former Army Vehicle Workshop is one of the few remaining large volume, timber, military buildings built during WWII for the Commonwealth Allied Works Council in Western Australia.

After the war, most of the camp facilities and buildings were sold and the Shire purchased the Army Vehicle Workshop for use as a Shire Depot. Part of the building is still used for plant storage and maintenance, while the remainder now houses the museum.

We spent a few hours wandering and looking at everything also talking to a gentleman called Bill. Who told us heaps of history. He was a teenager when the war was on so was able to recount some of his experiences.

 Search light which has been restored and is now working

 The inner working were missing when found, ingenuity has it all rebuilt and working using items from other things.

Generator that is used to run the search light

All that is left of 3 of the storage sheds are Red Brick walls situated in the middle of a wheat crop at the north edge of town.

The first thing I (Kathy) spotted as we walked in the door of the museum was a China cabinet like mum`s with curved glass side panels.

We really enjoyed our time here and would recommend it for anyone interested in the history of the WWII