Submarines at Gallipoli
At 2.30 am on 25 April 1915, as the men of the Anzac Corps approached the coast of Gallipoli in the ships of the invasion fleet, the Australian submarine AE2 entered the Dardanelles to disrupt Turkish sea communication. Read about this historic journey, and watch a detailed animation of the AE2's voyage, based on Lieutenant-Commander Henry Stoker's reports.
TURKISH TRANSLATION now available!
The Anzac landing at Gallipoli
The Gallipoli campaign is still debated today. Why were Australians and New Zealanders fighting in Turkey? Did the Anzacs land in the right place? Read war correspondents and soldiers landing accounts, and investigate historians' research findings.
- Why did the Anzacs land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915?
- Read accounts of events leading up to the landing
- An excerpt from Denis Winters' book, 25 April 1915 - The Inevitable Tragedy, outlining the landing events.
- The first published reports by eye-witness war correspondents Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett and Charles Bean.
- Complete online book A "duty clear before us" - North Beach and the Sari Bair Range by Richard Reid. Anzac Cove is forever associated with the Battle of the Landing, but many troops landed beyond Ari Burnu at North Beach, marked today by the Anzac Commemorative Site.
- Diary extracts and eye-witness sketches by Ellis Silas, a signaller of the 16th Battalion, provide a dramatic insight into the dangers, hardships and loss which accompanied the Anzac Corps' attempt to establish a foothold on the Gallipoli peninsula.
- First to Fall - See details of the 57 men from the 11th Battalion who were killed in action on 25th April, 1915.
Visiting Gallipoli today
Essential background information for those planning a trip to the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. Find out about the area's history, environment, climate, and what to expect if you plan to visit around Anzac Day - Gallipoli's busiest time of year. Download audio guided tours for your iPod or mp3 player.
- The Anzac Walk. A walking tour of the Gallipoli battlefield, with photographs, maps, instructions and contemporary accounts. Audio commentaries are available for all 14 locations. Complete text and audio also available in Turkish (Anzak Toren).
- The Gallipoli Tour. A driving tour of 11 Anzac locations, 7 Helles locations and 4 on the Asian Shore. Audio tour commentaries available for all 22 locations. Complete text and audio also available in Turkish (Gelibolu Turu).
- Turkish monuments and memorials. For the people of modern Turkey, the struggle to retain control of the Gallipoli peninsula and the Straits of the Dardanelles was one of the defining moments in their history. Alongside the cemeteries and memorials of Anzac stand the Turkish memorials. Complete text also available in Turkish (Türk Abide ve Anıtları).
- War Cemeteries and Memorials at Gallipoli. On the Gallipoli Peninsula today are 31 war cemeteries, 21 of which are in the Anzac area. Explore maps and photgraphs of these sites.
- What's new on the website? Exhibits and information are constantly being added. Also, see a selection of the highlights of the site from this page.
- Anzac day at Gallipoli. Links to the latest information about Anzac services at Gallipoli on 25 April each year.
- Australian Peace Ambassadors. In March 2008 four Australian women travelled to Turkey to participate in a program of commemorative and cultural activities emphasising peace and international understanding.
Building the Anzac Commemorative Site
An Anzac commemorative location has been built at North Beach at Gallipoli in conjunction with the New Zealand government and with the approval of the Turkish government. The site is a focal point for visitors to this heritage area of special significance to Australians and New Zealanders. This section provides background on its design, engineering and construction.
- The project proposal. The June 1999 proposal that outlines the design, environmental protection and purpose.
- Animated plans and maps. Explore the complete architectural and engineering site plans in interactive detail.
- The photographic records of the construction of the Anzac Commemorative Site in 1999-2000, from site preparation, foundation-laying and views of the construction work of this historic memorial.
Interpretative Panels at the Anzac Commemorative Site
As a focal point to enrich the experience of visitors, the Anzac Commemorative Site includes 10 large panels that tell the story of Gallipoli in 1915. Here you can view the photographs, read the text (in English and Turkish) and investigate the history in more detail. A short commentary on each by the historian who selected the panel images and text provides better understanding of the Anzac story. The panels and texts are also available in PDF format.
Researching Australians at Gallipoli and at war
Included here are official and unofficial visual records of the Gallipoli campaign, including a selection of interactive timelines to assist in quickly locating information and perspectives on significant dates. Read about the role of the nurses at Gallipoli in 1915 and the conditions in which they worked. The Victoria Cross, the highest award for bravery in battle in the old British Empire and Dominions, was awarded to eleven soldiers in the Anzac area of Gallipoli. Discover how these men earned the VC for their extraordinary acts of courage.
- Timelines. Australians at Gallipoli, 100 Events at Gallipoli and Australians at War 1901-2000, available in Shockwave and html formats.
- Nurses' Stories. A unique album by 75 photographs by Private A W Savage records the work of the Third Australian Hospital at Lemnos, an island off Gallipoli, where wounded from the hospital ships were treated.
- Submarines at Gallipoli. At 2.30 am on 25 April 1915, as the men of the Anzac Corps approached the coast of Gallipoli in the ships of the invasion fleet, the Australian submarine AE2 entered the Dardanelles to disrupt Turkish sea communication. Read about this historic journey, and watch a detailed animation of the AE2's voyage, based on Lieutenant-Commander Henry Stoker's reports.
- Watercolours and Drawings of Major LFS Hore. Lying unseen in the Mitchell Library until published here, 25 works from the sketchbook of a Gallipoli soldier can be viewed at their full size.
- Bravery - the Victoria Cross and Anzac. The stories of the eleven Anzac VCs at Gallipoli.
- The word 'Anzac'. Gallipoli made the word 'Anzac' instantly recognisable throughout Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Commonwealth Government prohibited the use of the word for any business use. Reproduced here are a series of applications from people and organisations for the right to use the word 'Anzac', providing a fascinating insight into the times. They range from drinks, songs and jewelry to billiard saloons, hotels and tea rooms.
Teaching Gallipoli
On these pages you will find a range of materials and suggestions that will assist teachers and students to explore Gallipoli and the Anzacs in their classrooms, including the Operation CLICK Resource kit.
