Community
4 March, 2026
Research room open for bookings at Goulburn war memorial and museum
Members of the public are being encouraged to make use of the research room at The Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum in Goulburn.
Members of the public are being encouraged to make use of the research room at The Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum in Goulburn.
The Bob Saunders Research Room is open to researchers and historians during normal office hours – 10am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as daily during school holidays and public holidays
Named in honour of former museum curator Bob Saunders (1999–2015), the research room reflects his dedication to preserving and sharing military history.
Working alongside committed volunteers, Mr Saunders transformed the caretaker’s cottage into a functioning museum space, establishing the foundations of the significant collection held today.
Mr Saunders passed away in January 2020, leaving a lasting legacy.
The research room is a quiet, private space designed to support focused study. It features a large desk suitable for a laptop and research materials, with access to hundreds of books - many of them rare - covering a broad range of military history topics, including the home front, women and war, the battlefront, artillery, warships and military vehicles.
The room also provides access to the recently acquired John Laffin Collection Archive, an important resource for scholars, writers and the wider public.
This significant collection offers a rare perspective on the interpretation and commemoration of twentieth-century warfare— particularly the First World War—from an Australian viewpoint. John Laffin (1922-2000), born in Sydney, was a prolific author with nearly 130 books to his name, many of them concerning military history.
To make a booking or discuss your research needs, please contact Museum staff on (02) 4823 4842.
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