There is also a small temporary display in the Federation gallery. It is a fine diorama of the amphibious assault on Balikpapan (Borneo), built by Bill Thurleigh.

In the early hours of Sunday, 1 July 1945, over 150 ships were gathered off the southwest Borneo coast. On board were 30,000 Australian troops. They were preparing to participate in Operation Oboe2, an amphibious invasion on the town of Balikpapan, which was the second largest oil producing area in the Dutch East Indies.

The large refineries had been supplying the Japanese military in the southwest Pacific with over half of its fuel products since 1942, and so were one of the US Army Airforce and RAAF's most important targets from 1943 till 1 July 1945.

On this morning, with American bombs having already fallen on the beach, the Australian troops landed five minutes early and began the assault, joined on the following day by a reserve brigade.

Oboe2 was successful, with the retaking of the town and harbour of Balikpapan, and the securing of the oil installations, airfields and coast from Klandasan to Manggar. Within six weeks of the successful assault, the Japanese had been defeated.