Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum Broken Hill

Getting There

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum in Broken Hill is located at the city’s airport, about five kilometres from town. It forms part of the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section Headquarters, which means visitors can experience the museum alongside the working base, hangar and aircraft that continue to serve remote communities across outback Australia. The museum is easy to find, because signposts directing you once you enter the airport. Additionally, a GAF Nomad aircraft is on display next to the museum carpark.

Inside the Museum

Inside the museum, the story of the RFDS is told through a wide range of exhibits. Historical displays trace the service from its founding by Reverend John Flynn in 1928 to its present-day operations. These include original medical chests, uniforms, photographs and early radio equipment that illustrate how medical help was delivered to people living in isolation.

A highlight is the chance to view the aircraft themselves. Exhibits also explain the evolution of the service’s fleet, from early Fox Moth biplanes to the modern King Air.

The museum also makes use of interactive and audio-visual displays to bring the Flying Doctor story to life. Films and digital presentations feature accounts from pilots, doctors, nurses and patients.

Another major focus is the communications that made the service possible. The famous pedal radio (yes, you had to pedal to make the radio work), which allowed isolated homesteads and stations to contact the Flying Doctor, is explained and displayed, alongside more recent technological developments. Visitors can also see examples of the specially designed medical kits that allowed treatment to be delivered under the guidance of doctors, even when they could not be physically present.

The museum also pays tribute to John Flynn, whose vision of a “mantle of safety” for people living in the outback became the foundation for the RFDS. Exhibits highlight the dedication of the pilots, medical staff and support workers who turned that vision into a lasting service.

Alongside the historical material, the museum includes a gift shop where books, souvenirs and RFDS merchandise are available. Proceeds from sales help to support the continuing work of the service. As the Broken Hill base remains an active centre of operations, the museum gives visitors not only a sense of the history of the Flying Doctor but also an appreciation of the vital role it still plays in providing health care to people in some of the most isolated parts of Australia.