The National Vietnam Veterans Museum story

1996 – 2024

The National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM) was originally founded by Vietnam Veterans to help and support veterans to cope better with their experiences during the Vietnam War and after their return to Australia. 

In 1996 Vietnam Veteran John Methven and his wife Krishna joined the ‘Vets Connect’ ride around Australia for six weeks, driving a Land Rover and display trailer full of his personal memorabilia as a mobile museum. Fuel was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to help ‘Vet Connect’ reach out to many veterans who had ‘gone bush’ and to make them aware that the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) had been formed to lobby for recognition and improved welfare and conditions for all veterans affected by the war.

A growing collection of memorabilia, images and stories were contributed to the trailer both during and following this tour. When the Methven’s retired to San Remo, next to Phillip Island, a garage was arranged in March 1998 and this became the first Vietnam Veterans Museum, open to the public.  Donations of memorabilia continued to arrive, space became an issue and the collection moved to a new home in 1999.

The museum was run by volunteers and came under the auspices of the Patriotic Trust Fund (set up after the Second World War by the Victorian Government).  By late 2003, the museum was forced to re-locate once again, and with the concurrence of the VVAA, 1¼ acres of land was purchased next to the Phillip Island airstrip (our current location).

A Bellman hangar was purchased and transported on site and a number of new veterans joined the VVAA Museum Sub-Branch – one foundation member was the Methven’s pet dog, ‘Jack’. Two committees were established: one for the sub-branch welfare and pension obligations – and one to focus on the museum for business planning and fundraising.    

The first major grant was $30,000 from DVA. Then the Vietnamese community raised $20,000.  Most funds for the museum development came from the veteran community, through donations from VVAA sub-branches, RSLs, and individuals who purchased either a family or individual ‘brick’ as part of the museum’s ‘Buy-A-Brick’ campaign. The Victorian Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and RAASC Association also raised nearly $20,000.  A joint application with the Bass Coast Shire to the Regional Development Victoria’s Small Towns Development Fund raised $250,000, along with a Federal grant for $58,500 (plus GST) from the Regional Partnerships Program.

The San Remo Museum site was closed on 15 November 2006, re-located to the new permanent Phillip Island site and re-opened on 15 December 2006. On 9 March 2007, the new National Vietnam Veterans Museum was opened by the Premier of Victoria, Mr Steve Bracks MP in front thousands of veterans, their families and dignitaries. The National Vietnam Veterans Museum vision had been achieved.

A second hangar was added and a workshop to support an aircraft restoration program established.  In December 2012, the NVVM became a company limited by guarantee, and an independent museum.

The Board developed and adopted their Master Plan 2025 in 2014 and part of that Master Plan included analysing availability of additional land for Museum expansion. By 2015 it became apparent that more display space would be required. As the years have passed so has the number of items being donated and to do the collection justice, we are currently looking at other sites and at the same time options to build a new contemporary Museum that is climate controlled so it can protect the collection for future generations. With an aging Veteran population our ideal situation is that by 2024-25 we will have secured a property that suits our needs, and we can begin the last part of the journey in building the final home for the Museum.   

The National Vietnam Veterans Museum on Phillip Island remains the spiritual home for Vietnam veterans and protects and preserves their legacy and heritage arising from their participation in the Vietnam War.  Today, the National Vietnam Veterans Museum seeks to remember, interpret and understand the experience of the veterans of the Vietnam era and the enduring impact of the war on society.