Watch for emu crossings and don't fight the roos: PHG just added a new location!

G'day Pacific History Guide readers! Today on the blog I'm happy to announce that we've added a new location to the website: the wild weird and wonderful Australia. I'm very excited for this launch; it's been a long time coming and there's been a lot of work put into it.

ANZAC Memorial, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Australia has been a favorite port call of mine since I first arrived in Sydney in the summer of 2007. Since then, I've been back a number of times, mostly to Brisbane. The photo above, of the ANZAC memorial in Brisbane, was taken during my last visit in June 2023. I was really struck by the simple beauty and rich history all over this memorial; respecting the memory of fallen servicemembers is a pillar of Australian culture and heritage and I really dig that.

Each time I return to Australia, I discover something new. As you know, PHG's goal is to help you get connected with history no matter where you are. The vast majority of military members will be making port calls or rotational deployments to the coastal cities, which are all great places to work or relax; you almost can't go wrong in any Australian city when it comes to culture, food, and especially history. Each place has its own vibe, but many places, like the ANZAC memorials and maritime museums, feel like old friends when you visit them.

While it's unlikely that your MEU or port call will take you to Canberra or Alice Springs, you never know when a long weekend or a rescue det will pop up and require a trip to one of the many beautiful and historically fascinating cities and towns of Australia. To that end, we've created pages for every state and the two largest territories, and our desire is to help give folks a better idea of what to expect and what's available in this amazing country.

Here at Pacific History Guide, we're always working to improve the site and make it easier for servicemembers and their families to get connected to history. If you have been to Australia and found a memorial, monument, or museum, let me know! I'll add it to the website and give you credit for the find. Thanks again for all the support!

Keep discovering,

Tony