Australian War Memorial reveals new Iraq War gallery will showcase 'NO WAR' Sydney Opera House protest items alongside fighter jet

Workers survey the words "NO WAR" painted on the Sydney Opera House by Dave Burgess and Will Saunders in 2003.  (AAP: Mick Tsikas)

On the morning of March 18, 2003, Australia was on the brink of going to war in Iraq, and Dave Burgess was scaling the Sydney Opera House in what would become one of the nation's most infamous protests.

"Just as I flatten myself out on the tiles and put the fingernails and toes into action, a voice from below said, 'Come down, now!'" Mr Burgess recalled.