Welcome to South West Victoria's War Heritage Web Site. Here you can explore war memorials, museum items, personal memorabilia and individual stories relating to this rural region's experience of war. Since the founding of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, Australians have fought in many wars and conflicts, most notably in the First and Second World Wars. Over 100 000 Australian servicemen and women died during those conflicts. In virtually every Australian community municipal memorials, honour boards and other commemorative items were erected to their memory. After the First World War so-called 'trophy guns' were given to communities in memory of the achievements of the men and women who made up the First Australian Imperial Force. Those who went to war often came home with souvenir items which they and their families still treasure. Local museums and local historical societies have over the years been collecting war related material of all kinds. Local branches of the Returned and Services League hold many items of considerable war heritage significance. Throughout Australia there are thousands of Australian war veterans. These men and women have valuable stories to tell. These personal memories can be collected at local level and preserved for the future. We hope the material on this site will encourage other communities to identify, preserve and interpret their own war heritage.

Examples of entries for this site
Memorials	Memorabilia	Memories