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Friday,
28 May 2004
96/2004
NEW
NAVY HERITAGE CENTRE ON SYDNEY HARBOUR
More
than 500,000 items representing a century of Australia's Naval
heritage will be displayed in a new Royal Australian Navy
Heritage Centre on Sydney harbour, Defence Minister Robert
Hill announced today. The centre will be built in the public
access area at the northern end of Garden Island at a cost
of approximately $5 million. Work is expected to begin
in January. It will consist of:
* Two converted heritage-listed buildings used formerly as
a gun-mounting workshop and a boat shed;
* A landscaped area for large external displays; and
* A café and conference facility. "The RAN Heritage
Centre will be an institution of national significance,"
Senator Hill said. "It is a major commitment by the Government
to conserving and opening up Australia's rich heritage to
the nation." Senator Hill said development of the centre
was the culmination of the Navy's re-invigoration of its heritage
management. The centre will exhibit at museum standard artefacts
from the RAN Collection. "The Naval collection is one
of the largest of its kind in the world," he said. "It
represents our Navy's physical history and illustrates its
role in the defence and development of Australia since colonial
times. "The exhibits will acknowledge the sacrifice of
all those men and women who have served Australia so well
in the past. They will also enhance the Navy's internal
ethos and further inform and educate the public on our Navy's
history through more than 100 years of peace and war. "The
RAN Heritage Centre will complement the work of other institutions
such as the Australian War Memorial, Australian National Maritime
Museum and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust." Senator
Hill said the Navy planned to operate the centre seven days
a week and the public will be able to travel by ferry from
Circular Quay to Garden Island. "Visitors will also be
able to enjoy the historic gardens and unparalleled views
of Sydney Harbour in the public access area," he said.
Media
contacts
Catherine
Fitzpatrick
(Senator Hill) 02 6277 7800
0405
351 245
Defence
Media Liaison
02 6265 3343
0408 498 664
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