WA as a tourism destination for veterans

foreword

Hon Rita Saffiota MLA Deputy Premier Minister for Tourism

Western Australia has a strong history of commemorating the service and sacrifice of previous generations. Due to its strategic geography, WA has always had a significant place in Australia’s defence history, and the state saw many Australians depart from its shores to protect our country in war and conflict.

Western Australia has embraced its duty to build on the heritage of those who served our country, driving the need for remembrance through memorials, award-winning museums, and points of interest in our natural environment.

Western Australia’s involvement in World War I and World War II can be discovered on tours and at many museums across the state.

Opened 100 years after the start of the Great War, the National Anzac Centre in Albany is recognised as one of Australia’s significant cultural assets, and a must-visit place for people looking to honour the Anzac tradition. It represents the birth of the Anzac legend and tells their story, offering visitors a deeply personal connection with the Anzac experience and overlooking the magnificent King George Sound.

In Perth, Kings Park and Botanic Garden boasts more memorials, statues and honour avenues than any other park in Australia. Its iconic State War Memorial, along with other memorials throughout the park, honours the fallen from all wars in which Australia has participated and hosts one of the largest Anzac Day Dawn Services in the State each year, attracting thousands of people.

Rottnest Island, Perth’s island paradise, was a prime location to defend Fremantle Port from potential enemy seaborne attacks during World War II. Here, you can view two 11-metre 9.2-inch naval guns on Oliver Hill, the only intact emplacement of its type left in Australia. After viewing the battery, take a guided tour underground to explore the tunnels that burrow into the sandy hillside, used to house the gun’s engine room and ammunition supply.

WA’s rich display of memorials and artefacts respectfully reflects the state’s gratitude toward those who have courageously shaped Australia’s place in today’s world, while educating the future generations.