10 History Museums in Top End That You Shouldn't Miss

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Darwin Tourist Facility is an exciting attraction on Stokes Hill Wharf that brings to life two iconic Australian stories. Both iconic stories are retold using state of the art technology including Virtual Reality headsets, hologram movies, audio-visuals and touch screen TVs as well as the fascinating story boards. The first story is the Royal Flying Doctor Service, affectionately known as the RFDS. Founded in 1928 by Reverend John Flynn, it began its aero-medical operations in the Northern Territory in 1939. The second story is the Bombing of Darwin on 19th February 1942. The bombing raids by the Japanese, brought destruction to the city of Darwin and many of the events that happened that day are featured. The RFDS Tourist Facility is a must see in Darwin for visitors of all ages and families to have an interesting learning experience about Darwin's history.

A B-52 bomber (one of only two on display outside the U.S.) is exhibited here along with other military aircraft, engines and the wreckage of a Japanese Zero fighter shot down in the 1942 air raids on Darwin.

Discover the unique history of the Katherine region at the Katherine Museum & Gardens. Start at the McNamara Cottage and gift shop, visit the Clyde Fenton Gallery, the Overland Telegraph Line building and Wallie’s Shed to see diverse displays of people, place and culture. Through outdoor and indoor displays, the museum showcases the resilience, resourcefulness and adventurous spirit of the people of the Katherine region. From town icon and Wardaman stockman, Sabu Singh, Galloping Jack and Russian Peanut Farmers to the Daisy Cutter bombs that fell during World War Two, Katherine’s strong military ties and the Katherine Floods, find out how and where it happened. Have a picnic or take a walk in the beautiful community gardens.

Permanently closed - Discover how students living in remote locations across the Northern Territory and beyond learn in a virtual classroom. Tours take you on a walk through the school meeting staff and exploring the unique world of distance education. Guided tours run for 1 hour starting at 11am Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) May-August. There is ample shaded carparking available opposite the school on Giles Street. Follow the path to enter the school building via Reception to begin your tour.

Roadmaster's House was built to accommodate the staff of the North Australia Railway (NAR). The date of construction of the building is not known but was most likely in the 1920s or 1930s. It was built to accommodate staff of the North Australia Railway (NAR) and was known as Roadmaster’s House. The Roadmaster was the officer responsible for track maintenance. It was occupied by NAR staff until damaged by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. After the railway closed in 1976 the building was leased to the Roman Catholic Stella Maris organisation where it was used as a seafarers centre. Originally the house provided for an office, bar, meals, and recreational facilities up until 1991 when a new building was completed and the house became an annexe. Roadmaster’s House Museum documents the work of engineers and surveyors in the Northern Territory.

The Borroloola Police Station Museum offers a fascinating insight into the local history. The police station was constructed in 1886 when Borroloola was a significant river port and drovers’ camp. The buildings were used for 50 years by the police before becoming a patrol officer’s residence. It is the oldest surviving example of an outpost station in the Northern Territory. The town was a depot for the resupply of cattle drives along the Gulf Stock Route and Barkly Tablelands properties. The Police station closed in 1946. The building now houses a small district museum, which tells many stories of occupation, administration and mining in the Gulf region. The museum is open to the public all year round.

An evocative reminder of the former Northern Australia Railway and the great hopes held. Pine Creek Railway Station is a former railway station on the former North Australia Railway in Pine Creek in the Northern Territory. The railway was extended to Pine Creek in 1889 during the gold rush and was the southern terminus of the line until 1914. The station operated until 1976, and during World War II Pine Creek was one of the four dispersal bases on the North Australian Railway with up to 147 services a week. The station precinct is the most complete remaining example of infrastructure associated with the North Australia Railway. Today you will see one of the original Beyer Peacock locomotives on display and a former Western Australian Government Railways TA class diesel-electric shunting engine. In addition to the railway building with waiting rooms, there is a large goods shed and a house for a railway employee.

O’Keeffe House was intended as a recreation hut, built by the army in World War II, but became the Officer’s mess. It was a simple structure with the walls and ceilings made from bark, cypress pine, fly wire and the roof from corrugated iron. The floor was local aggregate and concrete. When the war ended the shortage of housing was immense and most people in Katherine scraped together homes from whatever materials were left behind by the army. It is one of the few structures from the war to have survived in the Katherine region. In 1963, Johnno and Olive O’Keeffe purchased what would become known as O’Keeffe House. Johnno turned out to be an excellent handyman, making furniture from all sorts of scrap and territory timbers. Olive loved her garden, so between them, they made their own little paradise between the trees on the banks of the Katherine River.