Inside Australia's Only Spy Camera Museum

Far north Queensland, Australia has long been known for its world-heritage listed rainforest, the great barrier reef and crocodiles but not necessarily for spydom. (Associated Press)

Nestled high in the mountains, the tiny village of Herberton in far north Queensland seems an unlikely centre for international espionage.

But each year thousands of people flock here, to see the only spy camera museum in Australia.

While it may seem like something out of a James bond movie, these cameras are the real deal, once owned by spies during a time when the Soviet Union and the U.S. stood on the brink of nuclear war.

There's the KGB button-hole camera.

"The button comes through there. The cable goes in to the back of the pocket. So he just puts his hand in the back of the pocket, squeezes the cable and takes the photo," describes the owner of the Spy and Cameras Museum, Michael Petersen.

The cigarette spy camera.

"The Russians are looking for you. They wait outside your embassy so you're working in London, they come outside your embassy they walk up to you with a cigarette, ask for you a light and they take your photo," says Petersen.

And this vintage sniper camera from Soviet Russia.

Photographer Michael Petersen took over the business from real life Australian spy Roy Jacques, who used several of the cameras during secret missions in Korea.

Thousands of cameras have since been added to the collection.

"Some were just in backyard sheds that granddad had put in the shed and the kids had found it. And granddad passed away," says Peterson.

Not even the people who built the spy cameras knew what they were making.

"So each part is built in a different factory. So production wise, anyone who works on a camera has no idea what the part is," says Peterson.

Peterson has had some interesting visitors over the years.

"I've had lots of spies and people that have worked for the military in photographic departments, doing surveillance and stuff like that," he says.

The museum not only boasts Australia's largest collection of spy cameras but also rare 19th century models.