Decoded: 75 Years of the Australian Signals Directorate provided an unprecedented glimpse at the history of Australia’s oldest national intelligence organisation.
The exhibition explored the exploits and achievements of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), from its origins in the Second World War to cyber challenges today.
Decoded: 75 Years of the Australian Signals Directorate was on show at the National Museum of Australia from 1 April to 24 July 2022.
Exhibition highlights
M1 three-rotor Enigma cipher machine, 1930s
CRAY X-MP 2.2 ‘Marsik’ supercomputer, 1986
Bid/08/05 Rockex cryptographic device, 1940s
Typex Mark 23 cipher machine and plugboards, 1940s
STU-II (KY-71) Secure Telephone Unit, 1980s
Speakeasy secure telephone unit, 1995–96
Bletchley Park commemorative badge, 2010
Reveal their secrets – protect our own
Decoded visitors could find out if they had what it took to be a cyber security operative in a multi-player game. They worked in a team to complete a mission before time ran out.
Code words could be scanned to reveal personal stories about collecting intelligence on foreign adversaries and keeping Australian secrets safe.
The exhibition also featured interactive sounds and light experiences and objects including an Enigma cipher machine.
Explore more Decoded
Acknowledgements
Decoded: 75 Years of the Australian Signals Directorate was a collaboration between the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Signals Directorate.
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