About the radio museum
The museum is a privately funded operation displaying many aspects of radio and is run by Ian O’Toole VK2ZIO. It contains many operational radios and other equipment ready to be demonstrated. Visitors will be given a guided tour. With 250m2 of floor space, large groups can be accommodated. Kurrajong is about 50km to the north west of Australia with limited public transport facilities so that visitors are advised to make their own travel arrangements.
Our website (www.vk2bv.org) gives information about the museum and provides details of a variety of individual radios for collectors. Information on additional radio equipment is being added as time permits and will include background, technical details and photos.
The official opening was on Saturday, May 27th 2006 and it is classified as an Educational Establishment by Hawkesbury City Council, complying with all the requirements of a building for public use.
The museum is open most weekends from 10am until 5pm. (but check first – ph 4573 0601) while weekday or night visits for groups can be made by prior arrangement. Admission charges are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Useful information for tour organisers is also available. For directions to the museum see our website map and instructions page.
This museum is not designed to be dark, dingy and dormant. It is light and very much alive. There are lots of sounds to listen to, Morse Keys and buzzers just waiting to be warmed by fingers, teleprinters to be tried and several hundred radios and related items to be looked at. You can look into a Broadcast Control Room and check out the AWA Room to see what a once great Australian company achieved. There are radios from the Outback, tanks, ships and aircraft – maybe even one like your Granny had at home! Come and be amazed!
History of the museum
The museum was originally set up by Ian O’Toole at his previous home in Castle Hill, Sydney in the early 1990s. It was based on his collection built up over many years, which he felt should made more accessible to the general public as well as those interested in military radio. It was housed in a specially built building but as the collection grew this rapidly filled up.
On Ian’s retirement from full time work in 2002, he moved to the present location at Kurrajong on the outskirts of Sydney where a much larger building was present on the site. Since this time he has made major changes to the museum building and surroundings as well as setting up the many hundreds of exhibits. The museum was officially opened in May 2006.
Aim of the museum
The aim of the museum is to preserve military radio equipment and display it for all to see.
Unlike normal museum collections, the intention is to have the majority of the receivers operational so that visitors are able to experience the feel of equipment from a previous era.
Assistance to collectors
Information, when available is provided for other enthusiasts, so please don’t hesitate to ask. Collectors are also invited to contact Ian to exchange information and compare notes.
Protecting our heritage
Much disposal equipment is being thrown away. Please assist by informing others that it can be given a good home at this museum. Manuals and other documentation are particularly valuable as they are the key to restoring the equipment to working order. Please contact Ian if you have or know of manuals or equipment that is being disposed of.
