The Australian Gliding Museum
– Preserving Australia’s gliding heritage –
Who are we?
We are a Not-For-Profit Charity staffed and run by a 100% volunteer workforce.
Our funding is mainly provided through membership subscriptions and donations along with some grants for special projects.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life but many are active or retired pilots of both powered aircraft and gliders.
Our combined interests and skills allow us to:
- operate a public museum to collect, preserve and display items of sports aviation historical interest (click the aircraft icon to see our collection)
- stimulate awareness, understanding and participation in all forms of sport aviation, and in particular, gliding
- promote interest in the restoration, display and flying of vintage gliders
- encourage greater participation in the adventure of flight
What do we do?
We collect, preserve and restore vintage gliders, especially those significant to the development of the sport of gliding in Australia. An example of a “before” and “after” scenario is shown below.
Where are we?
The Australian Gliding Museum is located in the gliding club precinct at Bacchus Marsh airfield, Parwan, Victoria.
There are three gliding clubs (Beaufort Gliding Club, Geelong Gliding Club and Melbourne Gliding Club) located on the airfield which together with use by a pilot training school and private owners makes the airfield a very busy place.
Entry to, and tours of, the Museum are available Tuesdays and Fridays (between 10am and 3pm) or by appointment.
Our mail address is PO Box 150, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
How significant is our collection?
In 2023, our collection was reviewed for its significance through a Community Heritage Grant from the National Library of Australia. The review provided the following Statement of Significance. The full review report can be obtained here.
“The collection of the Australian Gliding Museum (AGM) has strong historical significance at the national threshold. It is the largest museum collection of gliders in Australia. The aircraft collection clearly demonstrates strong connection with gliding as a sport in Australia and around the world and a technical development in aeronautics. The collection is also representative of many of the leading experts and proponents of gliding in Australia.
Artefacts and memorabilia at the AGM are a strong reflection of a community of professional and amateur pilots, and the evolution of clubs and of gliding in Australia since the 1930s. The considerable aesthetic significance of the craftsmanship and design of many gliders is upheld by the restoration workshops held at the AGM.
The AGM has an excellent record management system, with provenance and historical research documented across digital and physical platforms. There is extensive opportunity for storytelling at the museum due to the strong relationship between the archive and the glider collection. A curator is able to build exhibitions that tell stories of innovation, construction, adventure, achievement, technique, and skill not only in Australia but in Europe and America as well.”
How can you help?
The easiest way to assist us to conserve these vintage aircraft is to become a donor and/or become a member.
As we are a registered Deductible Gift Recipient, any donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. Receipts are provided on request. You can make a donation here!
Members usually receive two newsletters per year outlining what projects have been happening at the Museum and with interesting stories about our aircraft and their former pilots. An example of the newsletter can be downloaded here. Members also have the opportunity to attend courses in wood repair and covering airframes with fabrics.
Anyone wishing to apply for membership and/or make a donation should contact our secretary for further information.
Information about upcoming events and other contact details can be obtained from our Facebook page.
