The Australian Museum is a heritage-listed museum at 1 William Street,Sydney central business district,New South Wales,Australia. It is the oldest museum in Australia,[1][2] and the fifth oldest natural history museum in the world,with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology.[3] It was first conceived and developed along the contemporary European model of an encyclopedic warehouse of cultural and natural history and features collections of vertebrate and invertebratezoology,as well as mineralogy,palaeontology and anthropology. Apart from exhibitions,the museum is also involved in Indigenous studies research and community programs. In the museum's early years,collecting was its main priority,and specimens were commonly traded with British and other European institutions. The scientific stature of the museum was established under the curatorship of Gerard Krefft,himself a published scientist.
Its current CEO and Executive Director is Kim McKayAO.
Establishment
The establishment of a museum had first been planned in 1821[6] by the Philosophical Society of Australasia,and although specimens were collected,the Society folded in 1822. An entomologist and fellow of the Linnean Society of London,Alexander Macleay,arrived in 1826. After being appointed New South Wales Colonial Secretary,he began lobbying for a museum.
"Here, in a public museum, the remains of the arts, etc., as existing among them, may be preserved as lasting memorials of the former races inhabiting the lands, when they have ceased to exist."
From a "beautiful Collection of Australian curiosities", the Museum has grown to an internationally recognised collection of over 21 million cultural and scientific objects. The Museum plays a leading role in taxonomic and systematic research, and at its research station at Lizard Island conducts significant research on coral reef ecology. Through exhibitions and other public programs the Australian Museum continues to inform and amaze generations of visitors about the unique flora, fauna and cultures of Australia and the Pacific.[9][5]
Building
The heritage-listed[5] building has evolved to encompass a range of different architectural styles[10][11] and when its building expanded, it was often in conjunction with an expansion of the collections.
The first location of the museum in 1827 was probably a room in the offices of the Colonial Secretary, although over the following thirty years it had several other locations in Sydney, until it moved into its current home in 1849. The Long Gallery is part of the wing designed by New South Wales Colonial ArchitectMortimer Lewis, and the earliest building on the site, c.1846.[5][2][9] This is a handsome building of Sydney sandstone in the Greek Revival style on the corner of College and William Streets, opposite Hyde Park, designed by the Colonial Architect James Barnet, and it was first opened to the public in May 1857.[8]
In order to accommodate the expanding collections of the museum, Barnet was responsible for the construction of the neoclassical west wing along William Street in 1868. A third storey was added to the north Lewis wing in 1890, bringing cohesion to the building design.[12]
In 1963, the floor space of the museum almost doubled when Joseph van der Steen under the Government Architect, Edward Farmer, designed a six-story extension linked to the Lewis building for the scientific and research collections, the reference library and a public restaurant. There were also two basement floors providing workspace for scientific staff. This International Style extension became known as the Parkes/Farmer eastern wing. In 1977, to mark the Museum's 150th anniversary, bronze lower case letters were added to the façade identifying the building as "The Australian Museum".
In 2008, a significant expansion took place on the College Street site with the addition of the new Collection and Research building which added 5000 square metres of office, laboratory and storage areas for scientists.
In 2015, the museum's carbon-neutral glass box entryway known as the "Crystal Hall" was opened. Designed by Neeson-Murcutt, it returned the entry to William Street and provided access via a suspended walkway.[13][14] In December 2016, the Museum made public a $285million master plan proposing to greatly expand its available exhibition space, by adding a 13-storey building on the block's east, adding a large central glazed atrium space.[15][5]
2020 upgrade
At the end of 2020, after being closed for 15 months, the 200 year old museum reopened following a major $57.5 million upgrade.[16] Subsequent to its refurbishment, Museum entry will be free for the public and the building will provide a physical space that "equals the importance of the collection and the scientific research" done there.[3] This included the new Hintze Hall, and new shop, café, members lounge, and education rooms, along with a expanded exhibition area for temporary exhibitions.[17]
Hyde Park with the Museum under construction in the distance by John Rae (1842).
The completed Barnet wing of the museum c.1870.
The Barnet Wing.
The Australian Museum along William Street.
The Australian Museum, College Street, Sydney.
The Australian Museum; main facade.
Administration
The museum was administered directly by the colonial government until June 1836, until the establishment of a Committee of Superintendence of the Australian Museum and Botanical Garden. Sub-committees were established for each institution. Members of these committees were generally the leading members of the political and scientific classes of Sydney; and scions of the Macleay served until 1853, at which point the committee was abolished. In that year, the government enacted the Australian Museum Act, thereby incorporating it and establishing a board of trustees consisting of 24 members. William Sharp Macleay, the former committee chairman, continued to serve as the chairman of this committee.[18]
Curators and directors
The position of "curator" was renamed "director and curator" in 1918 and from, 1921 "director". In 1948, the "scientific assistants" (the scientific staff) were redesignated "curators" and "assistant curators". In 1983, during a period of reorganisation, the position of curator was renamed as "collection manager".
Order
Officeholder
Position title
Start date
End date
Term in office
Notes
1
William Holmes
Custodian
16June1829(1829-06-16)
1835
5–6 years
Holmes accidentally shot himself while collecting specimens at Moreton Bay in August 1831.[19]
Ramsay greatly increased the recruitment of scientific staff within the institution. The museum's catalogues, first documented by Bennett, were the first scientific publications by the museum, but with the addition of science staff and, thereby, research output, in 1890 Ramsay started the Records of the Australian Museum, a publication which continues to the present.[21]
McKay is the first woman to hold the position.[22][23]
Collections and programs
20th century
After a run of field collecting activities by the scientific staff in the 1880s and 1890s, field work ceased until after the First World War. In the 1920s, new expeditions were launched to New Guinea, the Kermadec Islands and Santa Cruz in the Solomon Islands, as well as to many parts of Australia, including the Capricorn Islands off the coast of Queensland.[24]:137
During the 19th century, galleries had mainly included large display cases overly filled with specimens and artefacts. During the 1920s, museum displays grew to include dioramas showing habitat groups, but otherwise the Museum was largely unchanged during the period beginning with the curatorship of Robert Etheridge Jr (1895–1919), until the appointment of John Evans in 1954, when under his direction, additional buildings were built, several galleries were overhauled, and a new Exhibitions department was created. The size of the education staff was also radically increased. By the end of the 1950s, all of the galleries had been completely overhauled.
The museum's growth in the field of scientific research continued with a new department of environmental studies, created in 1968.[25] The museum support society, The Australian Museum Society (TAMS), now known as Museum Members) was formed in 1972, and in 1973 the Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS), was established near Cairns.
The Australian Museum Train, an early outreach project, was officially launched on 8 March 1978. The train was described as "a wonderful new concept of the travelling circus! The only difference is that the travelling Museum Train will bring school children and the people of NSW into contact with the wonders of nature, evolution and Wildlife."[citation needed] The two-carriage train was renovated and refurbished at Eveleigh Carriage Works, and fitted out with exhibits by the Australian Museum at a cost of about $100,000. One carriage displayed the evolution of the earth, animals and man. The second carriage was a lecture and visual display area.[26] The train ceased operations in December 1988 but the museum's outreach work in regional communities continues.
In 1991, the museum established a commercial consulting and project management group, the Australian Museum Business Services (AMBS), now known as Australian Museum Consulting. In 1995, the museum established new research centres in conservation, biodiversity, evolutionary research, geodiversity and "People and Places". These research centres have now been incorporated into the museum's natural science collection programs. In 1998, the djamu gallery opened at Customs House, Circular Quay, the first major new venue for the museum beyond College Street site. A series of exhibitions on Indigenous culture were displayed until the gallery closed at the end of 2000.
In 2002, ICAC launched Operation Savoy to investigate thefts of the zoological collections by a museum employee.[27]
In 2011, the museum launched its first Mobile App – "DangerOZ"[28] – about Australia's most dangerous animals.
Jurassic Lounge
Established in early 2011 by the Australian Museum and non-profit company The Festivalists, Jurassic Lounge displays contemporary art.[29] Combining events, live music, art, cultural displays, and new media with standard exhibition space in the museum precinct, Jurassic Lounge is a seasonal display-event held on Tuesdays for two seasons annually.[30] Jurassic lounge first opened on 1 February 2011.[31] It is held after-hours at the Australian Museum.[32] It allows the public to discover Sydney's newest artists, musicians and performers. 2018's event included a burlesque show, a silent disco, live painting, a photobooth, interaction with museum animals (snake and stick insects).[33]
Australian Museum Research Institute
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2024)
In September 2013, the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) was launched. AMRI's purposes are:
to provide a focal point for the many researchers working in the museum
to facilitate collaborations with government research agencies, universities, gardens, zoos and other museums
to showcase the important scientific research that is being done at the museum, focusing on climate change impacts on biodiversity; the detection and biology of pest species; understanding what constitutes and influences effective biodiversity conservation.[34]
In 2017, the museum began a citizen science project called FrogID to help conserve and document the distribution of frog populations throughout Australia.[35][bettersourceneeded]
Exhibitions and permanent galleries
Parts of this article (those related to this section) need to be updated. The reason given is: Sharks exhibition in 2022-2023, which was curated by the museum and also went on tour internationally afterwards + Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family exhibition in 2020-2021 + Unsettled exhibition in 2021 + Jurassic World by Brickman exhibition in 2022; new permanent galleries since 2020 upgrade: Minerals, Wansolmoana. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2024)
The museum has hosted exhibitions since 1854 to the present day, including permanent, temporary and touring exhibitions, such as "Dinosaurs from China", "Festival of the Dreaming", "Beauty from Nature: Art of the Scott Sisters" and "Wildlife Photographer of the Year".[36]
In 2008, two new permanent galleries were opened, "Dinosaurs"[37] and "Surviving Australia".[38]
In 2012, an exhibition called Sydney Elders was opened. It consisted of photographs by renowned Aboriginal photographer Mervyn Bishop of a selection of local Elders who have "contributed to the important role of culture, education, health, community or social justice". The collection is accompanied by an essay written by Djon Mundine, entitled "Growing Old on Eora Country". Elders whose portraits were included in the collection include Christine Donnelly, founder of the Aboriginal Dance Theatre Redfern; Naomi MayersOAM, founder of the Aboriginal Health Service; Sol BellearAO, member and leader of many Aboriginal organisations; and singer-songwriter Vic Simms; and activists and leaders Dulcie FlowerAM, Paul Coe,[39] and Lyall Munro Jnr.[40]
In 2012–13, the museum hosted "Alexander the Great: 2000 years of treasures" which exhibited a collection of artefacts from the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[41]
When the Crystal Hall was opened as the museum's new entrance in August 2015, the former foyer, the Barnet Wing, became the permanent gallery housing "Wild Planet" – a display of over 400 animals that explores and explains evolution and the tree of life.[43]
In 2017, the permanent exhibition "200 Treasures of the Australian Museum" was reopened, being Australia's first museum gallery, which was previously called the "Long Gallery".[44] Some of the objects on display include the wooden sled used during Sir Douglas Mawson's expedition to Antarctica, an Egyptian mummy, and a feathered cape given to Captain James Cook on his arrival to Hawaii.[45]
The museum was due to hold "Tutankhamun: The Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh" in 2021, however this was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[46][47] However in late 2023, the museum was the fourth in the world to open "Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs".[48] It was announced that Ramses' coffin would also be loaned to the Australian Museum, with Sydney being the second city in the world outside of Egypt to display the artefact.[49]
Heritage listing
As at 14 November 2014, the Australian Museum buildings house the first public museum inaugurated in Australia, one of Australia's oldest scientific and cultural institutions. Conceived and developed initially along the contemporary European model of an encyclopedic warehouse of cultural and natural history, the museum buildings evolved as the institution evolved, partly in response to its visiting public, to pursue and expand knowledge of the natural history of Australia and the nearby pacific region. The museum continues to occupy the site provided, and the building constructed, as its first permanent home, commenced in 1846 and opened to the public in 1857. The extended and enlarged complex of buildings which now provide its principal exhibition, administrative and research accommodation reflect the growth of the institution and its prestige, as well as the evolving attitudes of Australian Government and society to science and research.[5]
The Museum's various buildings further comprise a unique aggregation of work by successive colonial and Government Architects of New South Wales, exhibiting:
changes in the philosophy and functional requirements of museum design
changing stylistic influences and design approaches in architecture from the early 19th century to the present, and
corresponding developments in building technology, materials and craftsmanship.[5]
Individually the various elements of the Museum complex remain significantly intact, with potential for enhancement of their cultural significance through conservation techniques, though conflicts exist between conservation of fabric and contemporary use, particularly exhibition techniques. Of special note are the exteriors and principal interiors of the three earliest wings of the complex, which despite varying degrees of alteration, remain in substantial original condition. The interlinked exhibition galleries comprise an important group of 19th and early 20th century public interests.[5]
Through its development, the Museum complex has assumed a prominent stature in the townscape of Sydney. With its frontage to William and College Street, the Museum commands the eastern reaches of Hyde Park and forms and extension of the principal historic civic and religious precincts adjoining the northern boundaries of the park in Macquarie and College streets. Through recent expansion the museum site includes the former grounds and two surviving buildings of the William Street National School, which, established in 1851, is one of the earlier public schools continued in educational use for almost 100 years.[5]
In December 2023, the Museum became the subject of criticism for its controversial decision to reword an exhibition panel that originally read (however, the exhibition was not curated by the museum themselves):[50] 'In his teens, Ramses was second in command, fighting alongside Seti in Libya and Palestine'. That panel was updated to refer to 'what is today known as Libya and Palestine'.[51] This was done after the Australian Jewish Association had accused the Museum of 'inaccurate use of the word "Palestine" in an exhibit on Ancient Egypt'.[51]
According to the president of the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, Nasser Mashni, this incident was another case of 'Palestine, Palestinians, our history, our cultural heritage and stories being invisibilised, minimised, rewritten, if not completely erased, by an Australian institution at the command of a Zionist lobby group'.[51] The Australian Friends of Palestine Association added, 'To let this rewriting of history go unchallenged amounts to cultural genocide, the ideological expunging of cultural identity from history'.[52]
Gallery
Butterflies in a display case
Human and Horse Skeletons displayed in a lifelike pose (2007)
A display of African metalwork art, 2007
A display case of some stuffed Australian bird specimens, 2007
Display on the skeletal structure of snakes and other reptiles (2007)
Modern Aboriginal art on show at the Museum in 2007
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↑ McBride, Laura (2 June 2021). "Sydney Elders exhibition". The Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
↑ McBride, Laura (7 December 2021). "Lyall Munro". The Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
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