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Australia's involvement in World War I, currently in its centenary years of commemoration, continues to capture the public's imagination in a way that arguably surpasses all other historical events in Australia's history. This is particularly in terms of popular culture representations such as advertising, film, and television; children's literature; popular and academic history publications; and educational resources at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. So pervasive is the public's awareness of Australia's first major military campaign, Gallipoli, that by the time high school students in year 9 study the unit on Australia's involvement in WWI, they are already familiar with the common tropes of narratives surrounding this event, however inaccurate they may be. This paper reports on research conducted in three Australian high schools that provided students with a collection of five sources and a series of questions to answer about the Gallipoli campaign as a historical and commemorative event. The research is interested in understanding how the Gallipoli campaign is perceived at the time of its 100- year anniversary and to see whether or how students reflect collective memory and official history in their own narratives of the nation.

The Centenary of World War I (WWI) between 2014 and 2018 attracted international attention. Many Australians travel to key battle sites in mainland Europe, especially Turkey, France, and Belgium to connect with the experiences of Australian soldiers and nurses who served in this war. As no conflict occurred within Australian borders, sites make for popular tourist destinations. Museums and other cultural sites along "The Remembrance Trail" provide educational tours and experiences to a range of visitors, including private tour groups, individual tourists, school and university groups. Through the exhibition and accompanying guided tours, participants of a university elective study tour developed their historical understanding of WWI, with a specific focus on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Focus group interviews took place after visits to key museums to gauge students' reflections to their learning, including any affective connections to particular historical narratives and experiences as presented in these cultural sites. This article will discuss the participating tertiary students' development of historical empathy through visits to museums.