Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
Upon entering the primary hanger, you are immediately greeted by a large Mirage 3 fighter jet.
The Moorabbin Air Museum is an Australian aviation and history museum located at its namesake suburbs airport within Melbourne’s Southeast Suburbs.
When asked as to what the role of the museum has in the community, one that is largely disconnected from the military due to its location, General Manager Ewan McArthur explains that “we [the museum] talk about the technology used and that sort of stuff” and that it is “designed to educate people more than anything else.”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
General Manager Ewan McArther pictured in front of the museums Australian built CAC-27 Sabre.
While many history museums focus on people and their stories aviation museums such as this instead direct attention towards the technology used in the conflicts and to many like Ewan, preserving this aspect of history is just as important.
“My favourite museum piece is the DAP Beaufighter, which is the aircraft that started the museum, it’s the one that I fell in love with when I first saw it … but it's only 1 of 6 left in the world. It's quite a unique piece.”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
McCulloch pictured in front of both his and McCArthur’s favourite museum piece the DAP Beaufighter.
John McCulloch is a longtime supporter and volunteer of the museum and its mission, he expresses that their “primary teaching role would be on the theory and practise of aeronautics” but also history in general, “like we get regular school visit here.”
While he does not see the museums’ role being the avoidance of conflict, he does believe that preserving history is very important, heading the groups “vast archive, which when it's catalogued, it will be a resource for aviation people [and historians] generally.”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
A Bomb, Rocket and Missile sit underneath the Mirage 3 exhibit.
With interstate conflict seemingly on the rise once again the museum has the ability to show younger generations what war and conflict truly is.
“One of the key things with any of this stuff is that whilst a lot of the aircraft were designed for wartime applications, we don't actually glorify war in any way, shape or form. We tend to go the opposite more than anything” explains McArthur.
This is done through memorials and displays that “serve as a reminder that ultimately there's no winners [in war].”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
A pair of upper wings from a British B.E.2a plane dated to 1913/14, one of the earliest surviving examples of early Australian aviation.
In pursuit of their goal of general teaching of technology the museum also possesses a plethora of other displays from aircraft parts to engines. Exhibits stretch from the very beginning of Australian aviation, such as the wings above, to the end of the Australian era of locally produced aircraft.
While the museum lacks modern pieces it is not necessary when surrounded by histories that exude an anti-conflict message through their mere display.
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
An extremely rare German World War Two Jet engine, the Junkers Jumo 004B
The ability for the public to get such a close look at detailed and rare technology used in the distant, and more recent, past is something that can have a huge impact on how people connect to history.
It is rather unique to the museum as most hide their items behind glass and distance. While glass and perpex protects fragile museum items it also creates distance to the past, making it harder for the everyday person to understand and truly connect with it.
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
Looking forwards from inside the surprisingly sparse rear cockpit of a Gloster Meteor T Mk7
The museum has another way to foster a connection with the past, by allowing the public to sit inside of and experience the interior of a number of the aircraft - military and civilian alike.
John McCulloch expresses what a rare opportunity this is, “There was 6000 Beaufighters built during World War 2, 6 left in the world and the public can get inside one.”
Sitting in the cockpit of military aircraft gives a sense of both wonder and melancholy, it is amazing how everyday people went out and fought in such machines.
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023.
A small, unassuming glider sits in stark contrast to the aggressive fighter jet beneath it.
Inside the primary display hanger space is very limited and already filled to the brim. Aircraft are even hung from the ceiling in order to display them in the crowded space.
This doesn’t account for the thousands of books the museum also possesses,
“We got a vast donation [of books] from QLD. Six, half tonnes of it have arrived and there's still a lot up in QLD” McCulloch excitedly explains. “The Museum for just about its entire history has had a lack of space for its exhibits.”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
The remnants of the old fence line can be seen, showing the soon-to-be expansion of the museum.
Due to space constraints aircraft have had to be placed outside and face damage from weather and the sun, this is soon to change however.
Despite shutting down during Victoria’s various lockdowns, McArthur describes Post-Covid growth that has culminated in a planned expansion of the primary hanger on their current block and a new space across the street.
“Being an airport precinct were not Impacted by Urban Growth so we're going to basically double [our] size in the next five years.”
Pixel 7 – 2 November, 2023
Getting close to the aircraft gives a real sense of scale as represented by this looming Fairey Gannet.
“COVID put a cap on the numbers, cause’ obviously the public weren’t able to visit. And since COVID we’ve had this expansion programme,” explains McCulloch.
“We've got a huge archive that we have to accommodate as well. So as a result, [the office] will have to be pulled out and a three Story building put in its place, much longer than a bit wider.”
With the major expansion McArthur hopes to “actually bring out 26 aircraft that we actually have in storage, it's actually more than half hour collection still in storage.”
