Victoria Barracks, Sydney

Victoria Barracks, Sydney

Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney that houses the Headquarters Forces Command and the Australian Army Band.

Victoria Barracks is an Australian Army base in Sydney that houses the Headquarters Forces Command and the Australian Army Band. The 12 hectare site is the epitome of Edwardian military architecture in Australia. Designed by Lieutenant-Colonel George Barney, the barracks were constructed using locally quarried Hawkesbury sandstone in 1841-'49. Originally occupied by British Redcoats, it was taken over by the New South Wales colonial forces in 1870. After the Federation in 1901, Victoria Barracks housed the various headquarters responsible for administering and co-ordinating the military. It was home to the Royal Military College of Australia in 1931-'36, and the Command and Staff School in 1938-'40.

The active military complex is open to visitors as part of a guided tour conducted by the Corps of Guides. Explore the complex to see some of the finest barracks in the world, and learn about the history of the base. 'The Bungalow' was built in 1847 as the Barracks Master's residence with stables and a garden with old Moreton Bay fig trees. Today, it is home to the Land Commander Australia, the Army's senior field commander. The 25-cell District Military Prison houses the Army Museum of New South Wales, showcasing army uniforms from the earliest Colonial times through the Boer War and World Wars, medals awarded including Victoria Crosses, Military Crosses, Distinguished Service Orders, and Campaign Medals.