RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre (Originally known as the Wagga Wagga RAAF Museum but was officially, RAAF Museum – Wagga Annex[1]) is a heritage centre located at the Wagga Wagga RAAF Base at Forest Hill located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia on the Sturt Highway.[2] The heritage centre has indoor and outdoor displays of aircraft, memorabilia and photographs relating to the RAAF in the Riverina.
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Established | 24 June 1995 |
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Location | Forest Hill, New South Wales |
Coordinates | 35.1492°S 147.4678°E / -35.1492; 147.4678 |
Type | Military museum |
Wagga Wagga RAAF Museum was officially opened in June 1995 from items from the RAAF Base Wagga and items which was donated by the community.[3] The museum was closed in 2001 for refurbishment[2] with the memorabilia temporarily relocated to the Point Cook RAAF museum but plans to reopen the museum were quietly scrapped after the RAAF adopted a new policy in 2003, which stated that the RAAF would only fund RAAF museum at Point Cook.[4][5]
AirCare and Wagga Wagga based newspaper The Daily Advertiser ran a campaign during late September and early October 2008 in an attempt to reverse the Australian Defence Force's decision.[6]
On 13 December 2008, it was announced that the museum will be reopening in 2009. The Air Force would spend A$75,000 completing the refurbishment of the museum building, due to be complete in 2009 sometime.[7]
In May 2009, a public consultation meeting was held to discuss plans for the centre, including the A$130,000 set aside by the Royal Australian Air Force for outfitting the building for a future heritage display.[8]
On 12 March 2010, it was reported that the heritage centre was expected to reopen in Spring 2010, but the official opening date was to be announced at a later date.[9]
On 29 July 2010, Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced at the RAAF Base Wagga 70th anniversary that the heritage centre will open on 15 October 2010.[10] The heritage centre was officially opened on the 12 October 2010 and will open three days a week.[11]