Canberra Road Trip

[TimberWolfAu]

Just quickly, does anyone know if the following sites still hold Apollo items/exhibits?

- National Museum of Australia (I think it still has the Apollo 17 'goodwill' sample, but I can't see on their website that confirmed this)
- GeoScience Australia (some mentions say they have rock samples, but their website doesn't mention them)
- Questacon, they had some items at one point, but I didn't see them last time I was there.

And yes, I'll be calling them tomorrow to double check, but was wondering if there are any Canberra locals who might know? Figured, while I'm on holidays, I'll take a little road trip down to Canberra on Thursday. Planning on visiting the Deep Space Communication Centre and old Honeysuckle Creek site while I'm there. I'f you're all nice, I might post some photos too.

[Peter B]

Just quickly, does anyone know if the following sites still hold Apollo items/exhibits?

- National Museum of Australia (I think it still has the Apollo 17 'goodwill' sample, but I can't see on their website that confirmed this)
- GeoScience Australia (some mentions say they have rock samples, but their website doesn't mention them)
- Questacon, they had some items at one point, but I didn't see them last time I was there.

How embarrassing, that I'm a local and I have no firm idea about any of these. I've never seen the A17 goodwill sample when I've been to the NMA. I can check with a relative about GA. And I don't remember seeing anything relevant at Questacon.

Supposedly, the National Archives of Australia has the A11 goodwill sample, but I don't remember seeing that on display either. However, the NAA is only about a kilometre from Questacon, and well worth a visit in its own right.

And yes, I'll be calling them tomorrow to double check, but was wondering if there are any Canberra locals who might know? Figured, while I'm on holidays, I'll take a little road trip down to Canberra on Thursday. Planning on visiting the Deep Space Communication Centre and old Honeysuckle Creek site while I'm there. I'f you're all nice, I might post some photos too.

Tidbinbilla (CDSCC) has the best display of Apollo material (and of other space-related material) in the Canberra region. For example, they have on display the TV camera which was used on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. And I'm pretty sure in the past they had one of the  goodwill samples on display.

Honeysuckle is pretty and atmospheric.

[Obviousman]

If you are passing through Nowra and would like a tour of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, please let me know. No space-related items that I recall but heaps of aviation! (Something from Paul Scully-Power maybe? He has a strong association with the FAA & Navy)

[TimberWolfAu]

If you are passing through Nowra and would like a tour of the Fleet Air Arm Museum...

So very tempting but too far out of my way I'm afraid. I really only have a single day to make this trip (aligning with other people as the better half doesn't want me taking the trip on my own), and I'm already looking at a round trip of 9 hours.

[Dalhousie]

Just quickly, does anyone know if the following sites still hold Apollo items/exhibits?

- National Museum of Australia (I think it still has the Apollo 17 'goodwill' sample, but I can't see on their website that confirmed this)
- GeoScience Australia (some mentions say they have rock samples, but their website doesn't mention them)
- Questacon, they had some items at one point, but I didn't see them last time I was there.

And yes, I'll be calling them tomorrow to double check, but was wondering if there are any Canberra locals who might know? Figured, while I'm on holidays, I'll take a little road trip down to Canberra on Thursday. Planning on visiting the Deep Space Communication Centre and old Honeysuckle Creek site while I'm there. I'f you're all nice, I might post some photos too.

Canberran here....

Honeysuckle C k and Orroral valley tracking station.  Nothing left there but concrete plinths and plaques.  Nice drive though!

There is the Mt Orroral laser tracking observatory which is no tell known.  I only found out two weeks back while fire fighting in the area.  It's a bit of a hike but if you are keen, the weather is good, and you have the time, may be worth the hike. https://www.honeysucklecreek.net/other_stations/orroral/NatMap_Laser_Station.html

Tidbinbilla tracking station.  The free visitor's centre is open on Saturdays, and well worth a visit.  Evevn when closed you get nice video of the various dishes from the access road.

Geoscience Australia has a public viewing area in the foyer, and has a small but interesting collection of Mars and Moon meteorites, other meteorites, and an Apollo sample you can touch.  I wrote these up for school teachers a few years back. I can email you a copy. The mineral collection the geological time walk are also good.  There is a nice cafe too!

Questacon is expensive and they rotate their exhibits regularly.  Not sure if they have anything space related at present.  But you can buy Australian Space Agency T shirts and windcheaters in the shop without paying the entrance fee.

The Australian War Memorial has a Me-163 and possibly a V-2 on display, and is free.

National Museum I am not sure but doubt it.

When are you passing through?

[Obviousman]

Oh well, if you - or any member - finds themselves in the area then I am more than happy to be a guide at the Museum.

Regarding the AWM, if you get a chance try to book a tour through the Treloar Technology Centre - it has amazing items not on display.

https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/bigthingsinstore

[TimberWolfAu]

I got to call in on the Darwin Aviation Museum last year. I was surprised by how 'thin' the B-52 is, I always thought it was bigger than it actually is, not to say that it's small.

[TimberWolfAu]

Sacred feth, that was a long day. Left home at 7am, back around 9pm, about 8 hours of driving total.

Learnt something new, got corrected on somethings too.

So one of the nice people at the Canberra Deep Space Comm site corrected me on the rock they have being from Apollo 11, not 16 as I always thought (I mean it even says that on the information plaque with the rock too). For fun, the sample, 10072,80, is the same one shown in the photo of the Apollo samples from the lunar collection overview sheets for 10072.

Learnt that the dish from Honeysuckle was actually reset up at the Tidbinbilla site, though it 'retired' in 2009, but it's still standing today. Got to make it to the former Honeysuckle site too, that's a winding drive up the mountain.

All up, a pretty neat place to visit.

Some shots for you all.