The Mallacoota Bunker may have a story not known to many people and yet, it had the fundamental task of keeping the vulnerable south-eastern Australia coast and sea lanes open.

The Mallacoota Bunker serves to highlight the sophisticated coordination of the Australian intelligence service during the war and the role of regional Victoria in the defense of our vulnerable coastline. The Mallacoota Bunker now operates as a museum run by the Mallacoota & District Historical Society.

More broadly, the Gippsland region hosted a significant RAAF presence during World War II, with aerodromes at Bairnsdale, West Sale,` and East Sale all contributing to the war training effort. RAAF Base East Sale was declared operational on 22 April 1943 and is one of only two still operating air bases in Australia established during World War II, the other being RAAF Base Williamstown in New South Wales.

Earlier in the war, three other ships were sunk in Victoria. Mines laid by the German auxiliary cruiser, Pinguin, claimed the SS Cambridge—the first Allied ship to be lost in Australian waters during WWII—and the MS City of Rayville in 1940. The final vessel sunk was HMAS Goorangai, a minesweeper that collided with an allied passenger liner. The loss of these ships highlights the strategic importance of the Bass Strait shipping lane and the extent of enemy activity off the coast of Victoria.

Visitors are welcome at the Bunker every Tuesday morning from 9.30 am to last entry at 11.30 am, and every Sunday afternoon from 1 pm to last entry at 3 pm (Additional days during holiday periods)

Entry is by donation of $5 per adult and $1 for school age child. Sorry, no EFTPOS is available.

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Mallacoota Bunker The WWII Bunker – Protection of Aus.

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