The Nungarin Heritage, Machinery and Army Museum is set to host a Vintage Rally & Searchlight Party this coming April.

The annual event will kick off at 2pm, Saturday, April 4 and will feature vintage vehicles on show, such as army tanks, cars, tractors and trucks. The main highlight for the evening is set to be the firing up of a WWII anti-aircraft searchlight, first established in Nungarin to respond to potential nighttime attacks.

The museum is located in an Army Vehicle Workshop building that was built in 1942 as part of Australia’s World War II defence, due to the advantages of Nungarin’s inland location against an incoming Japanese attack.

Anti-Aircraft Searchlights (AASL) such as the one being displayed were used during World War II to keep lookout for enemy aircraft, such as in Kings Park in the 1940s.

When a beam of an AASL or multiple searchlights zeroed in on an aircraft, it made the anti-aircraft artillery gunners’ job easier, allowing an estimate to be made on the height, speed, and direction of the enemy aircraft. Being ‘coned’ by a searchlight beam was a dangerous predicament for the enemy aircraft crew, as the pilot, bombardier, navigator and gunners’ sight would be impacted, making the searchlights regular targets.

The searchlight being displayed has an incredible power of 800,000 candela, which equates to 10 million lumens, and is powered by a separate 15 kW generator.

Attendees can also check out the wide variety of stalls at The Nungarin Markets on Sunday, April 5. Multiple accommodation options include McCorry’s Old Hotel, The Woolshed Hotel, and Mangowine Homestead.

The Vintage Rally & Searchlight Party hits The Nungarin Heritage, Machinery and Army Museum on Saturday, April 4, 2026. For further information contact 9046 5040 or email nungarinheritage@bigpond.com