Contact Us

The Australian Army Tank Museum has a monetary donation box located at the front counter.

For larger sums, please contact us.

To holistically represent both the military experience and history of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, the Australian Army Tank Museum is reliant on the donations of military objects and personal memorabilia to convey what its means to be a part of this corps proud traditions. 

However, occasionally the Museum must decline a donation, due to acquisition policies or the limitations of storage space and staffing. 

As such, please contact the Museum if you wish to donate a collection item; ensuring that you have read the donation checklist below, so that you have to hand the necessary information required by our acquisitions team. 

Note: The Australian Army Tank Museum is not accepting loans at this point in time. 

Donation checklist

1. Can you describe the item?

2. Do you know who it relates to, including their full name or other biographical details?

3. Are there any stories related to it? Why do you think the Australian Army Tank Museum is the most appropriate place for your item? 

4. Where did you get it?

5. Can you confirm you are the legal owner,* and would be happy to transfer permanent legal ownership to the Australian Army Tank Museum?

6. If you have multiple items, can you describe the quantity and volume of the material?

7. Can you provide a digital image of it for assessment purposes?

*Legal ownership means having ownership of the physical item. Copyright is a separate issue altogether. 

Things to consider before making an offer

• Unfortunately, we are unable to accept everything that is offered to us. We have particular collecting priorities, and some areas of our collection are already well developed. If we already hold good examples of an object we are unlikely to accept more.

• We cannot accept material where current ownership is unknown or might be disputed.

• We strongly recommend you talk with your family before you offer material to the Australian Army Tank Museum. Their wishes may need to be considered before you proceed.

• A donation is finalised by the donor signing a Deed of Gift. This is a legal document that transfers ownership of the item to the Australian Army Tank Museum. Once a donation is finalised, it cannot be returned.

For a basic overview of object care, see the Australian War Memorial's information about conservation and collection care.

For further reading on in-depth care and conservation of objects, see the reCollections website and the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) website.

While the Australian Army Tank Museum may not have enough staff to research family records, here's a little nudge in the right direction. Below you will find links to several institutional databases which deal with the personal files of Australian Defence Force members. 

Note: Knowing the family members full name, date of birth and Service/PmKeys number really improves the efficiency of a search. These can be found on the individual's military documents or stamped into the rim/back of any medals awarded to the member. To identify medals, please see the University of Melbourne's Medal Identification chart.

A PMKeyS/Service number is the personnel number used by the Department of Defence to identify individual soldiers. Military personnel who enlisted prior to the 2000s will have a service number, while military personnel who enlisted after the 2000s will have a PMKeyS number. 

(>1870) Army Museum Ogilby Trust (UK)

Until 1870, British Infantry Regiments garrisoned the Australian colonies. After 1870, many British soldiers continued to support or joined the various colonial units, which is why colonial or Australian Army records will refer to an individual's prior British service. Such personal files must be sought from British records. See the Army Museum Ogilby Trust website.

(>1901) State Archives

Prior to Australia's federation, each colony maintained their own military forces. The records of soldiers who served in these forces will be found in the appropriate state archive. 

Victoria State Library website

Museum's Victoria website

• Naval Brigade (1859-1901) 

• Victorian Volunteer Forces (1854-1884) 

• Permanent Naval Forces (1867-1901) 

• Victorian Artillery (1870-1901)

• Victorian Militia Force (1884-1901) 

• Victorian Mounted Rifles (1885-1901) 

• Victorian Rangers (1888-1901) 

(1899-1945) National Archives of Australia

The National Archives of Australia holds the personal files of soldiers who served between 1899 to 1945, some of which have been digitised and are available online. See the National Archives of Australia website for more details. 

• Australian Military Force (AMF)

• Citizen Military Forces

• Australian Imperial Force (AIF)

(<1953) Defence Archives

The Defence Archives holds the personal files of soldiers who served in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) and all conflicts since 1953. Furthermore, the Defence Archives also holds records for members who enlisted or were commissioned into the Regular Army from 1948 onwards, including those who did not see active service. 

Please direct your enquiries to

Defence Archives 

GPO Box 225 

QUEENSCLIFF VIC 3225

ADF.records@defence.gov.au.