Supporting veterans and families who carry the weight of war.
who we are
Tobruk House was founded in 1944 by Australian veterans returned from the Siege of Tobruk. Holding and defending Tobruk throughout this siege was an Australian military victory in 1941 that is celebrated as the first time during World War II that German land forces were stopped.
Since its inception, Tobruk House has served to foster community among veterans and their families, and to facilitate welfare support. This same purpose endures today. We exist for one reason: to support the welfare of veterans and their families, now and into the future.
Our directors and volunteers are predominantly veterans who have served in combat units in recent wars, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and other recent conflicts, and who carry lived experience of the profound importance of supporting veteran welfare. We care about this work because we have seen first-hand the suffering inflicted when the most consequential needs are not addressed.
what we do
Tobruk House’s work is targeted, direct, and pragmatic. We are here to take action, not posture. In particular, we are committed to ensuring that effective support reaches the coalface directly and expeditiously.
Against the wide context of veteran welfare within Australia, we prioritise support where it is needed most, that is, the needs that are most urgent, consequential, and deserved. In practical terms, that means veterans carrying the lasting effects of war and combat, and the families of veterans killed in service.
The charitable programs of Tobruk House are focused on the welfare of veterans who have served directly in close combat or in units poised at short notice for combat, and the families of those veterans. Welfare relies on close community, so we foster the connections and trust that are the fabric of such community. We prioritise support to the families of veterans killed in service. We also prioritise critical support for individuals in crisis.
our structure
Tobruk House is recognised as an official charity within Australia.
It is structured as a public company limited by guarantee, incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), and regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Tobruk House is staffed entirely by volunteers who donate their time. All of our overheads are covered by services donated by our supporters and financial contributions from our Founding Partners.
This means that all financial donations go directly to welfare support.
program spotlight
Tobruk House delivers a number of internal programs supporting our fundamental purpose. Of these, we are currently featuring Valhalla Station. This 7,000-acre former sheep station is set in the Snowy Mountains near Jindabyne. Valhalla Station is home to 40 trained horses suitable for multi-day wilderness treks. The property teems with native wildlife that coexists comfortably alongside approximately 60 wild brumby horses and countless fallow and sambar deer.
Running operations from its historic woolshed, the property runs a number of practical programs supporting veterans and their families.
The core offering of Valhalla Station is simple: a supportive environment built around trust, respect, and shared experience, all set against the backdrop of rich equine heritage and magnificent alpine wilderness.