The Australian War Memorial has updated its gallery to reflect the recent arrest of former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who now faces five counts of the war crime of murder. The decision to ensure the Australian War Memorial display on Ben Roberts-Smith altered to include these charges comes as the institution unveils several refurbished sections of a massive, multi-year redevelopment project.
Roberts-Smith, one of the nation’s most highly decorated veterans, remains a central figure in the memorial’s Hall of Valour. While his uniform and medals stay on display, the informational panel accompanying them has been revised to include the legal developments of April 2026. The updated text now explicitly states: “In April 2026, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The legal process is ongoing.”
Memorial Director Matt Anderson stated that the institution’s primary goal throughout the legal proceedings has been to ensure the public is presented with a factual, up-to-date account of the case. Anderson emphasized that while the memorial is committed to telling the truth as it emerges, the legal process must be respected.
The former SAS corporal was arrested earlier this week, accused of war crimes. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
“Right now, the memorial’s commitment through this entire process, and the entire legal process, has been to ensure that the panel in the gallery is up to date and covers the facts,” Anderson said. “The most important thing that all of us can do now is allow justice to take its course; to start with the presumption of innocence.”
The newly altered display on Ben Roberts-Smith at the Australian War Memorial mentions his 2026 arrest. (ABC News: Lily Nothling)
A $500 Million Shift in Institutional Focus
The update to the Roberts-Smith display coincides with the unveiling of several major sections of a Australian War Memorial redevelopment. The project, which has a total cost of $500 million, has been years in the making and aims to modernize the institution’s approach to storytelling.
The expansion has not been without friction. Since the plans were first revealed in 2020, the project has faced criticism from some former directors and public observers who described the development as “wasteful” and “arrogant.” Critics expressed concerns that the scale of the construction might compromise the memorial’s original purpose as a site of solemn, quiet reflection.
However, the current administration argues that the increased space is necessary to honor a broader spectrum of service. Director Anderson noted that the redevelopment allows the memorial to highlight the stories of women and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who were previously overlooked.
The refurbished Australian War Memorial has been years in the making and cost $500 million. (ABC News: Niki Burnside)
“There are 1,200 individuals whose stories are told in the galleries behind us who have previously never had a chance to share their stories of their service with the Australian people,” Anderson said, adding that the timing of the unveiling was intended to precede Anzac Day, ensuring veterans receive the recognition they deserve.
Project executive director Will Hitches highlighted the architectural effort to blend the vintage with the new, noting that the new 7,000 square metres of gallery space utilizes stone from the Wondabyne Quarry in Gosford—the same source used for the original building—though cut differently to distinguish the eras of construction.
Reimagining the Air War and Global Peacekeeping
Among the most anticipated returns is the “G for George” bomber. The iconic World War II aircraft, which flew 89 missions over Germany and occupied Europe between 1942 and 1944, was temporarily removed during construction and returned last year.
While “G for George” earned a reputation as a “lucky” aircraft because none of its 250 crew members were killed, historian and curator Lachlan Grant says the new exhibition aims to dismantle the myth of an unscathed journey. The updated display details the aircraft’s frequent damage, including an instance where the windscreen was smashed and the pilot was temporarily blinded.
Famous World War II bomber G for George, built in 1942, is a major collection item at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. (ABC News: Niki Burnside)
The exhibition also introduces a tribute to Flying Officer Jean Starling. A Canberra librarian who volunteered for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, Starling served as a specialist photographic interpreter at the Central Interpretation Unit in London, providing critical intelligence for Royal Air Force operations.
Beyond the air war, the memorial has expanded its focus on Australia’s roles in the Middle East and South-East Asia. A new section dedicated to the Cambodian civil war and the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge was developed with the help of advisor Sokha Sras, who fled Cambodia for Australia in the 1980s as a child.
Sokha Sras worked as an advisor for the Australian War Memorial’s section about the Cambodian civil war. (ABC News: Niki Burnside)
“Without the Australian War Memorial doing this display, we would not have a voice to be able to tell people what we went through,” Sras said, referring to the millions of Cambodians forced into labour camps and killed during the 1970s.
The Path Forward
As the institution navigates the complexities of its current displays, the memorial continues to refine its narrative. Director Anderson noted that the presence of Ben Roberts-Smith in the Hall of Valour is specifically tied to his actions on June 11, 2010, in Tizak, Shah-Wali-Kot, in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.
“Whatever the truth is, whenever the truth is known, we will tell it,” Anderson said.
The redevelopment is not yet complete. A dedicated gallery focusing on Australia’s role in Afghanistan is scheduled to open in the near future, and the entire $500 million project is expected to reach full completion by 2028.
This story involves reports of war crimes and genocide. If you or someone you know has been affected by these topics, support is available through national mental health and crisis services.
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