Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum

03/08/2026

Looking for a great day out in Goulburn?
Step back in time and discover the stories that shaped our region at the Rocky Hill War Memorial & Museum.
We're open:
🕙 10:00am – 4:00pm, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Weekends

Explore fascinating military history, local stories, and enjoy the stunning views from the top of the tower, here depicted under construction.
We look forward to welcoming you!

23/07/2026

Today marks the 110th anniversary since the Battle of Pozières, began.

Just days after the devastating Battle of Fromelles, Australian troops were thrown into the fierce fighting at Pozières, a small village in France’s Somme Valley. Between 23 July and 7 August 1916, the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions endured relentless artillery bombardment and repeated attacks in one of the bloodiest battles fought by Australians during the First World War.

In less than seven weeks of fighting at Pozières and nearby Mouquet Farm, the Australian Imperial Force suffered more than 23,000 casualties, including 6,800 killed or mortally wounded. In our collection is a portrait of Lance Corporal Lindsay Bertram Murray, who fought at Pozières and died of wounds received in battle on 28 July 1916, aged just 23.

Charles Bean described the Pozières ridge as being “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth.”
Lest We Forget.

19/07/2026

Today we remember the Battle of Fromelles, 110 years ago.

On 19 July 1916, the Australian 5th Division and British 61st Division attacked heavily fortified German positions on the Western Front. The assault resulted in more than 5,500 Australian casualties, including almost 2,000 killed or dying of wounds—the greatest loss suffered by a single Australian division in 24 hours during the First World War.

Among the objects in the Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum collection is an 'over-the-top whistle' used by Lieutenant Colonel M. Purser DSO, commanding officer of the 29th Battalion AIF at Fromelles.

Today, we remember the courage, sacrifice and service of those who fought.
Lest We Forget.

18/07/2026

We are pleased to share a recent addition to the Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum collection – a rare Decca portable gramophone (1914 pattern).

Known as the “Trench Decca”, gramophones like this accompanied British and Commonwealth troops at Gallipoli and on the Western Front during the Great War, bringing music and a connection to home. Manufactured in London around 1920, this hand-wound gramophone was designed to play 78 rpm records without electricity.

This remarkable object offers a fascinating link to both wartime experiences and everyday life in the early twentieth century.

Portable gramophone housed in a leatherette-covered carrying case with a leather handle for transport. The hinged lid opens to reveal the tone arm and reproducer, together with a concave metal sound resonator embossed with the Decca name. The lower section contains the spring-driven motor mechanism....

16/07/2026

Have you visited In Their Honour: A Century of Remembrance at Rocky Hill yet?

These school holidays, explore this special exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Rocky Hill War Memorial. Featuring rarely seen photographs, portraits and objects from the Museum’s collection, the exhibition tells the story of how the memorial came to be and honours the local men and women who served during the Great War, as well as those who supported them on the home front.
🕙 Open daily, 10am–4pm during NSW winter term break

12/07/2026

Despite the rain and the cold, enjoy some splendid views from the War Memorial Tower and then visit our museum, where we chart the history of how our great memorial came to be!
We are open every day during the school holidays, anytime between 10am and 4pm

06/07/2026

The NSW School Holidays are upon us!
We are open every day from 10am to 4pm, so come and explore the War Memorial Tower and our significant collections

03/07/2026

Climb, explore and discover these school holidays at Rocky Hill!
We are open every day during the NSW winter term break.
10am - 4pm or check out our online collection via the link below!

The Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum is located on a spectacular rocky outcrop overlooking the inland City of Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. The Memorial Museum and Tower is managed by the Goulburn Mulwaree Council, who respectfully acknowledges the First Peoples of the land on which we work. W...

20/06/2026

Long before the yellow-lid bin, there was the Green Man!

This original WWII propaganda poster from New South Wales delivers an urgent appeal for households to recycle items such as old books, scrap metal and rags - salvaging valuable resources for the war effort. Proceeds would go directly to patriotic and charitable funds that supported the troops.

While the now-outdated language addressing "housewives" reflects the era's traditional gender roles, it also highlights one of the many vital contributions women made on the home front.
They played a crucial role in managing household resources that fuelled the war economy—ensuring that nothing went to waste.

A rectangular paper poster from World War II issued in New South Wales, Australia. It features a bold red and dark blue typographic design on a cream background, calling on housewives to salvage materials for patriotic and charitable funds. It includes the coat of arms for New South Wales and the pr...

14/06/2026

Museums Team Day Out in Sydney!

Our team recently took a trip to Sydney to explore some of the city’s incredible cultural and historical spaces.

We spent time at The Australian Museum, diving into fascinating exhibits and gaining fresh inspiration from world-class collections. Thank you to David, who guided us though the entire facility with some fascinating peaks 'behind the curtain'!

We also visited the ANZAC Memorial, a powerful and moving experience that gave us time to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who came before us.

It was a great opportunity to learn, connect as a team, and bring new ideas back to our own work.