Learn about one of the most important periods in Darwin’s history, the disastrous day when it was first bombed by the Japanese during World War II.

The Defence of Darwin Experience recreates the first time that Australia was attacked during World War II, using animations, multimedia, artifacts and storytelling. See the stories of Darwin during wartime come to life. Find out why this city was a priority target for the Japanese, and learn all about the events leading up to February 19, 1942, when Darwin was first bombed.

Through touch-screens, films, historical documents and audio you can fully immerse yourself in the ordeal that the city went through in 1942. See objects, such as the gas masks used during attacks, and listen to the experiences of 40 different characters whose paths you can follow throughout the exhibits. Together these people, from war artists to wharf laborers, tell a gripping story.

The displays show that Darwin was a frontier during World War II. The ships and planes of Allied Forces had strategically based themselves around Darwin Harbour, in the far north of the country. The city had called for the evacuation of its women and children after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the end of 1941 however, civilians still remained in the town and many lost their lives when Darwin was bombed on February 19, 1942. Learn how the Australian government worked to hide the true number of casualties from its citizens, out of fear that this would lower the national morale.

Visit the theater to watch a short film using realistic animation to gain insight into what happened that disastrous day. See evidence of how 188 Japanese aircraft destroyed the city, the wharf and the ships in the harbor. Read and hear the accounts of 28 survivors. Browse through fascinating documents and inspect old photographs. History buffs will appreciate the interactive tables and panels with Japanese maps of Darwin and counter-offensive strategies.

The Defence of Darwin Experience at East Point is a short drive away from central Darwin, and free parking is provided. Public transport is limited. Entry tickets include admission to the Darwin Military Museum next door.