Image of RAAF Radio & Radar Trainee Mechanics taken at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne in 1941-42. In 1940, in the months after the outbreak of WWII, the Exhibition Buildings complex was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force and used as a barracks and training facility. By 1942 more than 2000 men of the RAAF had been stationed there, alongside members of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force.Brown timber frame and cream coloured mount containing photograph of large group of airmen Plaque -RAAF Radio & Radar Trainee Mechanics 1941-42 at Exhibition Building Melbourneraaf, radio & radar, exhibition building, melbourne, ww2

Aluminium fabrication depicting aeroplane fuselage panel with table and mounting wall for radios, has morse key and audio player connected. also a small radar screen and lights. Light green radio console, lancaster mock up

This equipment was used to detect and analyse enemy radar transmissions. A piece of radio equipment very typical of the time, aluminium with circular glass display screen.

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The brass wall clock retains its key. It was provided by the Department of Shipping and Transport in about 1900 and is original to the lightstation. It was mounted in the watchroom, a small extension at the front of the lighthouse (later radar station), where lightkeepers completed many of their reports and recorded radio schedules, weather observations, distress calls and other data. Good, reliable clocks were also essential for maintaining a strict roster of hours for winding the clockwork mechanism that kept the lens active. The name of the clock’s manufacturer has not been determined. More specifically it was used for logging radio schedules that were made at five minutes to midday, everyday, and for recording the times of weather observations, distress and any other calls that came in. AMSA notes that ‘Lightkeepers who used this clock were said to have polished and wound it every week while it was in use until the 1990s when its otherwise impeccable time keeping mechanisms finally became inaccurate’.The brass clock at Wilsons Promontory illustrates the importance of timekeeping in a nineteenth century lighthouse. Despite its slightly chipped face, the timepiece has first level contributory significance for its historic association with the watch room and confirmed provenance. The significance of this clock also lies with its complete provenance..1. Brass clock with a circular white face and black roman numerals. Three brackets at back to attach to wall. Face of clock is covered by a hinged glass cover with a fastener. .2. key. Roman numerals on face of main clock. "1-12" On inner dial "10-20-30-40-50-60"

Type used by RAAF Radar station at Wilsons Promontory Lightstation (RS 14) for backup communications 1942 - 1946. This is an AT5 MF/HF 50 watts radio transmitter with black face and multiple dials and switches; There is also an AR8 radio receiver with a brown face and various dials and switches; and an AT5 radio aerial coupling unit with black face and dials and switches in the WP collection. They functioned as a set and were manufactured in 1938 at the Ashfield, Sydney workshop of AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd, later AWA Ltd), Australia’s largest electronics manufacturer and broadcaster. They are rare outside Australia as they were seldom exported to other air forces, and remained in service until the late 1950s. An AT5 transmitter and AT5 coupling unit are held in Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.The three units in the Wilsons Promontory Museum were deployed by the RAAF in WWII and represent the types of communications equipment used at the 14 Radar Station, Wilsons Promontory. It is not known, however if these particular examples were used at the lightstation and are part of the same set. They have interpretive relevance to the collection, but their significance to the lightstation is dependent on whether they have a direct historical association with the radar station that operated there. The units will have first level contributory significance if it is confirmed they were used at the Wilsons Promontory Radar Station.Radio receiver, grey metal face with multiple dials & switches

Type used by RAAF Radar station Wilsons Prom (RS 14) for backup communications 1942 - 1946. This is an AR8 radio receiver with a brown face and various dials and switches; They functioned as a set and were manufactured in 1938 at the Ashfield, Sydney workshop of AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd, later AWA Ltd), Australia’s largest electronics manufacturer and broadcaster. They are rare outside Australia as they were seldom exported to other air forces, and remained in service until the late 1950s.202 An AT5 transmitter and AT5 coupling unit are held in Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.203 The three units in the Wilsons Promontory Museum were deployed by the RAAF in WWII and represent the types of communications equipment used at the 14 Radar Station, Wilsons Promontory. It is not known, however if these particular examples were used at the lightstation and are part of the same set. They have interpretive relevance to the collection, but their significance to the lightstation is dependent on whether they have a direct historical association with the radar station that operated there. The units will have first level contributory significance if it is confirmed they were used at the Wilsons Promontory Radar Station.The units will have first level contributory significance if it is confirmed they were used at the Wilsons Promontory Radar Station.Radio tuning unit, brown metal face with multiple dials & switches.Yes

Type used by RAAF Radar station (RS 14) for backup communications 1942 - 1946. This one is an AT5 radio aerial coupling unit with black face and dials and switches. They functioned as a set and were manufactured in 1938 at the Ashfield, Sydney workshop of AWA (Amalgamated Wireless Australasia Ltd, later AWA Ltd), Australia’s largest electronics manufacturer and broadcaster. They are rare outside Australia as they were seldom exported to other air forces, and remained in service until the late 1950s.202 An AT5 transmitter and AT5 coupling unit are held in Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.203 The three units in the Wilsons Promontory Museum were deployed by the RAAF in WWII and represent the types of communications equipment used at the 14 Radar Station, Wilsons Promontory. It is not known, however if these particular examples were used at the lightstation and are part of the same set. They have interpretive relevance to the collection, but their significance to the lightstation is dependent on whether they have a direct historical association with the radar station that operated there. The units will have first level contributory significance if it is confirmed they were used at the Wilsons Promontory Radar Station.radio aerial coupling unit grey metal face with multiple dials & switches

Lightning is one of the major causes of bushfires, particularly in the remote mountains. This lightning detector system was developed by Dr. Peter Kourtz at Canada’s forest fire research institute. By 1977, some 300 were in use across the country. The small mushroom antenna could detect short-range (20-mile) changes in electrostatic field associated with lightning strikes. It needed to be placed out in the open on a hilltop and away from nearby trees. It simply counted the number of "strikes". The detector doesn't seem to have a direction finding capability or be able to distinguish between cloud-to-cloud or cloud-to-ground lightning. It's not sure how this particular unit found its way to Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) current lightning detector network uses radio waves emitted by lightning to pinpoint the location of lightning strikes. The network is operated by a private company that sends data to the BOM in real time. Lightning detection systems use sensors like antennas, GPS receivers, and processing systems to detect radio waves, also known as sferics. The systems calculate the lightning's location and speed by measuring how long it takes for the radio signal to reach the different antenna stations. The BOM also has a Thunderstorm Tracker that uses weather radar data to identify areas of potential thunderstorm activity. The tracker updates every six minutes and shows the direction thunderstorms are moving, as well as their expected position in 10, 20, and 30 minutesLightning detector 1970sQ-Techforests commission victoria (fcv), weather, bushfire, bushfire aviation