August 2025 edition – At the end of the war tanks were used to clear farmland

RSL Toodyay Sub Branch
Geoff Brown, President
ON WEDNESDAY July 9 members and guests of the Toodyay Sub-branch of the RSL travelled to Nungarin to visit the Nungarin Heritage and Army Museum.

The museum has a wide range of military memorabilia, including a rare Dingo scout car, General Grant and Stuart tanks, armoured cars, searchlights, half-tracks, trucks and an anti-aircraft gun.

During World War Two there was a limited supply of tractors.

 

At the end of the war tanks like the General Grant and the Stuart were sold and used for clearing farms.

There is also a display of Army uniforms, badges and photographs, and an impressive 10th Light Horse collection.

The display is dedicated to Trooper Joseph Stillman, a local soldier, a veteran of Gallipoli and Palestine and one of only fifteen Light Horsemen to be awarded the Military Medal.

The museum features a powerful and moving display on the barbaric treatment of British and Australian prisoners of war on Borneo during World War Two.

This included the Sandakan “death marches”, part of the military heritage of Toodyay – where only six men – all Australians – survived from a total of 2700 British and Australian prisoners of war.

There is also an extensive display of agricultural machinery, including a Phillips Acremaster tractor built locally in Merredin between 1975 and 1984.

These tractors had a reputation for simplicity and reliability.

The museum is housed in a massive workshop which was constructed in Nungarin as part of the defences of Western Australia against a possible Japanese invasion during World War Two.

The building was part of the 5th Base Ordnance Depot which at the time was the largest storage facility in Western Australia and cost approximately ten million pounds.
Nungarin was thought to be out of range of Japanese carrier-based aircraft, but close enough that any ordnance required could be transported by road or rail.

The store was in operation from 1942 until it was closed down in 1962.
The service workshops were purchased by the Shire for use as a works depot.

Later, when a new depot was built the building became a museum run by community volunteers.

Members and guests enjoyed a welcoming morning tea at the museum and went on to a very tasty lunch at the Woolshed Hotel.

A good time was had by all.

On behalf of the Sub-branch, I would also like to thank the members of the community of Toodyay for their generous support of the recent wood raffle.