The 2025 closure of the Sir John Monash Centre

28 days! That’s the total duration of our last maintenance closure, the longest since the Centre opened, and with good reason: the work that was carried out is the most extensive undertaken in the seven years the Centre has been open.

Every year, the Sir John Monash Centre closes its doors to the public for its annual maintenance. During this period, while the galleries are empty of visitors, specialists undertake a range of activities to ensure the Centre continues to be fit for purpose for visitors.

On ANZAC Day 2023, the Sir John Monash Centre received funding of 7.4 million Australian dollars over four years for a technological upgrade. This year’s priority was to replace screens, including 166 of the 186 screens in the immersive gallery.

A view of the immersive gallery without its screens

A view of the immersive gallery with the new screens being tested

These new screens, which use LED technology, replace the LCD screens, offer a brighter, higher-contrast image that promises an even more impressive immersive experience, but should also consume less power and have a longer lifespan. The old screens will be repurposed in the galleries.

Other tasks included the cleaning of all the objects on display, and work that is less visible to visitors, such as improving the site’s Wi-Fi coverage.

For the SJMC team, it was also an opportunity to take on more administrative tasks, such as writing articles, organising forthcoming events or taking part in training, and safety and first-aid exercises.

The closure was also an opportunity for the team to visit partner sites or sites linked to the history of contemporary conflicts, such as La Contemporaine in Nanterre, the Wellington Quarry, the Bullecourt Battlefields and the Musée des Invalides.

In particular, it is the preparation of the AnzacDay commemorations at the Australian National Memorial and at Bullecourt that is foremost on the agenda of the Centre’s teams. Working in conjunction with the teams from the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the local authorities, the aim is to organise these commemorations in the best possible conditions.

Book your visit to the Sir John Monash Centre now, or register for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial.