Located just The Museum boasts a 6,000 m2, two-storey exhibition centre, souvenir shop, function centre, theatre and airfield viewing platform. The Museum is open seven days a week except for New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas and Boxing Days. Pre-booked guided tours are also available for bus groups at no extra cost.
History about the Museum
From little things, big things grow
Developed from a small collection of naval aviation relics and five obsolete RAN aircraft by a very energetic team of Navy volunteers originally established in 1974, the museum has grown to be the largest regional aviation museum in NSW now containing over 30 aircraft and numerous aviation artifacts to relay the story of Naval Aviation and the development of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
The Navy team worked harder during the 80’s to raise funds for the construction of a large hangar, function centre and shop and over $8m was raised through corporate donors, private donors and from material in kind from building companies. It was a superb effort which resulted in an excellent facility that now stands in testament to the vision and energy of a dedicated group and the generosity and community mindedness of the donors. Much is owed to RADMAndrew Robertson AO, DSC, CDRE John Goble and other very highly motivated people to bring about such remarkable results. The Australian Naval Aviation Museum Foundation was formed on 6 June 1990 to operate the Museum and fulfil an ambitious charter largely related to relaying the story of Australian Naval aviation.
The collection was broadened in the Year 2000, adding objectives related to aviation history in Australia and renaming the institution as Australia’s Museum of Flight to recognise the change. The aviation display hall was re-configured, displays were upgraded and the museum was unveiled by the Chief of Navy VADM C.A. Ritchie AO on 17 December 2003, the 100th anniversary of the Wright Bros first flight.
While the institution’s name was changed in 2001 – to Australia’s Museum of Flight – the ANAMF maintained an abiding interest in commemorating, collecting, preserving, and interpreting Australia’s proud naval aviation heritage.
On the 1st September 2006 the Chief of Navy, VADM R. E. Shalders AO, CSC, RAN accepted ownership and management of the Museum on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy, announcing it’s new name as the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
The museum’s verandah overlooks the historic airfield at HMAS Albatross which has variously served the RAAF, the USAAC, the Royal Navy, the RNZAFand the RAN since it was established in 1941.
HMAS Albatross, Nowra NSW 2540 , Australia
T: (02) 4424 1920
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