Published on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 at 2:11:45 PM
New exhibits are opening at the Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum this Queens Birthday long weekend, following a refurbishment that began in March 2020.
Hidden Stories of the Fortress will be officially opened on Saturday 26 September showcasing artefacts and stories of those who lived and worked atop Mt Adelaide in the late 19th to mid-20th centuries.
A grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs has allowed the Main Barracks Gallery to experience its only major upgrade since it opened as a museum in 1979.
The upgrades include temperature controlled rooms featuring new display cases and restoration works allowing treasures from the collection to be displayed for the public to enjoy.
A coastal emplacement gun and Underground Magazine at the top of Mt Adelaide have also received attention, with a newly recreated WWII structure encasing the gun, lighting in the magazine and untold stories being unveiled.
City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said delaying the refurbishment works due to Covid-19 was an unfortunate decision to make but the new exhibitions are worth the wait.
“The Princess Royal Fortress has played an integral role in Albany’s history and indeed the history of Australia, with its presence being a major reason for the convoys of World War One converging off of Albany’s coast,” Mayor Wellington said.
“It is exciting to be able to provide the Main Barracks Gallery with its first major upgrade in 41 years that will make it a more inviting, comfortable and engaging space for residents and visitors to sit back and enjoy.”
The free exhibition Hidden Stories of the Fortress will be available to view Tuesday – Sunday 9am to 4pm from Saturday.
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