Monarch Historical Museum Monarch1.jpg (25707 bytes)
History of the Monarch Historical Museum

Monarch Historical Museum was established in the Sydney suburb of Dee Why in 1960, and because of a lack of space was moved lock stock and barrel to Port Stephens.

Mr Monty Wedd, OAM, FMHS, FAIHA, writer, illustrator and historian is the owner and curator , and has erected a prominent building on his spacious Williamtown Property to house his collection suitably.   His museum is a showcard tourist facility and an educational outlet for Port Stephens, the Hunter Region and visitors from around the globe.  Every nationality, whether they be Australian, British, American, Japanese, Continental, Asian of Pacific will find a little of their homeland in this museum to remind them of home and the association Australia has with their countries.

The new building in Williamtown was officially opened in November 1998 to co-incide with the 80th Anniversary of Armistice.

 
Objectives of the Museum

Monty actively interprets history through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts ranging from military uniforms, clothing, weapons, memorabilia, musical instruments and scores, armour, toys, photographs and artwork.

The displays are comprehensively interpreted and Monty is happy to offer any assistance regarding the historical context of his extensive collection.

 
Some key objects
This is a selection of four helmets, proceeding in a clockwise direction from the top they are a 16th Century Armet,a 17th Century Moriom, a 19th century Marmeluke and a 13th century Persian Chud. Monarch2.jpg (25879 bytes)
The three uniforms displayed on the right date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  On the left is a Uniform of the NSW Mounted Rifle from the Boer War. The uniform in the middle belonged to Captain Duncan Hughes, Aide to the Governor of South Australia.  The uniform on the right is a New Zealand private's uniform from the 2nd Brigade.  The last two uniforms are from the First World War. Monarch5.jpg (48751 bytes)
This group of uniforms date from the Second World War.  The uniform on the left is a Signal Man's from the Signal Corps 1938 - 39.  The Uniform in the middle is a Drum Major's from the Royal Australian Artillery stationed at Fort Queenscliff 1920 - 39.  The third uniform on the right is from the Australian Field Artillery Militia 1930 - 39. Monarch6.jpg (61449 bytes)
The uniform appearing opposite is that f a Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Norfolk Volunteer Rifles 1880 - 90 Monarch7.jpg (46739 bytes)
Appearing in the photograph to the right is one of the propellers from Charles Kingsford-Smith's Southern Cross, which he flew across the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California to Brisbane, Australia Monarch8.jpg (25070 bytes)
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