TheNational Museum of Australia (NMA) is a national public museum inCanberra,Capital Territory, Australia. It is operated and funded by thefederal government of Australia. It was formally established by theNational Museum of Australia Act 1980.[2]
The museum profiles 50,000 years of Indigenous heritage, settlement since 1788 and key events includingFederation and theSydney 2000 Olympics. It holds the world's largest collection ofAboriginal bark paintings and stone tools, the heart of champion racehorsePhar Lap and theHolden prototype No. 1 car.[3] The museum also develops and travels exhibitions on subjects ranging frombushrangers tosurf lifesaving.[4] The National Museum of Australia Press publishes a wide range of books, catalogues and journals. The museum's Research Centre takes a cross-disciplinary approach to history, ensuring the museum is a lively forum for ideas and debate about Australia's past, present and future.[5]
The museum's innovative use of new technologies has been central to its growing international reputation in outreach programming, particularly with regional communities. From 2003 to 2008, the museum hostedTalkback Classroom, a student political forum.[6]
The museum did not have a permanent home until 11 March 2001, when a purpose-built museum building was officially opened. It is located on Acton Peninsula in the suburb ofActon, next to theAustralian National University. The peninsula onLake Burley Griffin was previously the home of the Royal Canberra Hospital, which wasdemolished in tragic circumstances on 13 July 1997.
Aerial view of the museum on Acton PeninsulaInterior of the National Museum of AustraliaEntrance to National Museum of AustraliaCentral "garden" of the National Museum of Australia (Garden of Australian Dreams)
As designed by architectHoward Raggatt (design architect and design director for the project), the museum building is based on a theme of knotted ropes, symbolically bringing together the stories of Australians. The architects stated: "We liked to think that the story of Australia was not one, but many tangled together. Not an authorized version but a puzzling confluence; not merely the resolution of difference but its wholehearted embrace."[7] The building is meant to be the centre of a knot, with trailing ropes or strips extending from the building. The most obvious of these extensions forms a large loop before becoming a walkway which extends past the neighbouringAIATSIS building ending in a large curl, as if a huge ribbon has haphazardly unrolled itself along the ground. Known as the "Uluru Axis" because it aligns with the central Australian natural landmark, the ribbon symbolically integrates the site with the Canberra city plan byWalter Burley Griffin and the spiritual heart of indigenous Australia.
The shape of the main entrance hall continues this theme: it is as though the otherwise rectangular building has been built encasing a complex knot which does not quite fit inside the building, and then the knot taken away. The entirely non-symmetrical complex is designed to not look like a museum, with startling colours and angles, unusual spaces and unpredictable projections and textures.
Though hard to precisely categorise, the building can be seen as an example ofCharles Jencks' "new paradigm".[8] Some characteristics ofDeconstructivism can also be identified.
The organising concept of the scheme using the idea of a "tangled vision" incorporates a variety of references including:
The building's architecture is thus meant to imply that the story of Australia is not one story, but many stories tangled together. The building also refers to or quotes other buildings:[9]
The Garden of Australian Dreams is meant to evoke a range of differentcartographies
The walls use selected fragments of the word 'Eternity' – evoking the story ofArthur Stace who for thirty years chalked this single word on the pavements of Sydney
The plan of the National Museum of Australia incorporates an exact copy of the lightning-flash zigzag that Libeskind created for the Berlin Museum by breaking astar of David.The Bulletin magazine first publicly raised allegations ofplagiarism in June 2000. Libeskind was reported to be angry with the copying. Raggatt's defence against plagiarism was that the design was a quotation rather than a copy.[10] The director of the museum, Dawn Casey, stated that she and her council were not aware of this symbolism when they approved the plan.[11]
The exterior of the building is covered inanodisedaluminium panels. Many of the panels include words written inbraille and other decorative devices. Among the messages are"mate" and "she'll be right". Also included were such controversial words and phrases as "sorry" and "forgive us our genocide". These more controversial messages have been obscured with silver discs being attached to the surface making the braille illegible.[12]
Among the phrases in braille are the words "Resurrection city". The phrase may refer to the clearing of the former Canberra Hospital to make way for the museum or it could be a reference to reconciliation betweenIndigenous Australians and European settlers. The phrase is used as a label in tiles on another of Raggett's buildings, theStorey Hall in Melbourne. Raggett says of that message: "I guess that tries to be some big sort of theme for this building as well and its sort of set of memories."[13]
Art criticChristopher Allen described it as "undoubtedly the ugliest example of official architecture in Australia... a painful example of inept, clumsy and gratuitous form justified by kitsch symbolism".[15]
A severe thunderstorm hit Canberra on the afternoon of 29 December 2006 and caused roof damage to the administration section of the museum. The ceiling collapsed under the weight of hail. The damage exposed power cables and left two centimetres of water on the floor.[16] The water also damaged several paintings by a Sydney artist which were associated with an exhibition about Australian lifesavers.[17][18] However, the main part of the building was unaffected and nothing from the museum's collection was damaged. The building was re-opened to the public a day later. The damage was expected to cost at least A$500,000 to repair.[citation needed]
In 2012, building works commenced on a new cafe and administration wing.
The new cafe opened in late 2012. It overlooks Lake Burley Griffin and offers both indoor and outdoor dining.[19] The relocation of the museum's cafe freed up the vast entry Hall for the display of large objects from the museum's collection, including vehicles.[20]
The new administration wing, which links the main building with the existing administration building, was completed in mid-2013. The new building is clad in brightly coloured tiles arranged in aQR code pattern.[21]
The museum's collection, known as the National Historical Collection, includes over 210,000 objects.[24] The collection focuses on three themes: the culture and history ofAboriginal andTorres Strait Islander peoples, Australian history and culture sinceEuropean settlement in 1788, and interactions between people and theAustralian environment. Notable objects (as identified by the museum on their website) include:[25]
Thefleece ofChris the sheep, a merino ram that became internationally famous in 2015 after being found wandering, and later shorn of a record amount of wool fleece
The museum also functions as a temporary repository for the repatriation of ancestral remains.[28] It is involved in projects to return the remains of indigenous Australians, held in the collections of museums across the world, to their communities of origin. These projects have seen the return of over 1,400 remains as of March 2019.[29]
On 15 September 2017, the exhibitionSonglines: Tracking the Seven Sisters, referencing thecreation myth of theSeven Sisters that is common to many groups in theWestern andCentral Deserts, was launched at the NMA. It was instigated byaṉangu people, and was a collaboration withAboriginal elders who are custodians of the Dreamtime story.[30] The exhibition included a huge painting calledYarrkalpa — Hunting Ground, which symbolically depicts the area aroundParnngurr inWestern Australia, showing the seasons,cultural burning practices and Indigenous management of the land and natural resources. In June 2022, the work was projected onto theSydney Opera House as part of theVivid Sydney festival.[31]
The exhibition ran until February 2018,[30] and travelled to Berlin, Germany, in 2022 and is due to be shown in Paris, France, in 2023.[needs update][31]
This articlecontains a list that has not been properly sorted. Specifically, it does not follow theManual of Style for lists of works (often, though not always, due to being in reverse-chronological order). SeeMOS:LISTSORT for more information. Pleaseimprove this article if you can.(July 2024)
Museum Workshop: examined the behind-the-scenes world of the conservators responsible for the physical care of objects in the museum's collection (October 2012 – January 2013).
Off the Walls: Art from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Agencies 1967–2005: traced the history of artworks given to or acquired by federal Indigenous agencies; it included a collection of some 2000 works in the NMA's National Historical Collection (October 2011 – June 2012)[33]
Inside: Life in Children's Homes and Institutions: featured the words, voices and objects of the forgotten Australians, former child migrants and those who experienced institutional care as children (November 2011 – February 2012)
Not Just Ned: A true history of the Irish in Australia: an exhibition about the history and extraordinary influence of the Irish in Australia, from the arrival of theFirst Fleet in 1788 to the present (March–July 2011)[34]
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2010: celebrated the wit and artistry of Australia's established political cartoonists as well as recognising the talents of a new generation of cartoonists (December 2010 – October 2011)
Exploration and Endeavour: The Royal Society of London and the South Seas: celebrated the 350th anniversary of theRoyal Society of London and brought together unique treasures associated with voyages of scientific discovery to the South Seas (September 2010 – February 2011)
Papunya Painting: Out of the Australian Desert: highlighted the museum's collection of Indigenous Western Desert art (June–August 2010)
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2009: featured a selection of some of the best Australian political cartoons published in 2009 (December 2009 – January 2010)
A Fine Yarn: Innovations in Australia's Wool Industry: examined the fine wool industry in Australia today, while recognising the importance of wool in Australia's social and economic history (July–November 2009)
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2008: featured a selection of the best Australian political cartoons published in 2008 (December 2008 – February 2009)
Utopia: The Genius ofEmily Kame Kngwarreye: told the story of Emily Kame Kngwarreye, one of Australia's greatest contemporary artists (August–October 2008)
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2007: exhibited the best of the museum's latest set of cartoon acquisitions from artists around Australia includingAlan Moir,Bill Leak,Cathy Wilcox,Geoff Pryor,John Spooner andMark Knight (December 2007 – February 2008)
Papunya Painting: Out of the Desert: highlighted the museum's collection of Indigenous Western Desert art – works that have rarely been seen in Australia (November 2007 – February 2008)
Migration Memories: explored the migration stories of people from diverse backgrounds who now call the distinctively different regional centres ofLightning Ridge (an opal mining town in central north NSW) andRobinvale (a horticultural town on theMurray River in north western Victoria) home (September–November 2007)
Australia at Expo 67 Montreal: forty years after Canada's Montreal welcomed more than 50 million visitors toExpo 67 over a period of six months, this exhibition explored the world of Australia at Expo 67 (September–October 2007)
Great Railway Journeys of Australia: explored the development of Australia's rail network and featured some of the most famous railway journeys in the country such as the old and newGhan, theQueenslander and theIndian Pacific (April–August 2007)
Miss Australia: A Nation's Quest: traced the history of theMiss Australia quest from 1907 through to its final year in 2000 (March–June 2007)
70% Urban: drew on the museum's collection to explore Indigenous culture in the city (March 2007 – March 2008)
Collector Cam King: displayed a selection of Brian and Barbara Lynch's old grocery wares and toys following their win in the Collector Cam competition run by ABC Television'sCollectors program (January–February 2007)
Between the Flags: 100 Years of Surf Lifesaving: developed in conjunction withSurf Life Saving Australia, this exhibition celebrated the centenary of surf lifesaving in Australia (December 2006 – March 2007)[35][36]
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2006: featured the best of the museum's 2006 acquisitions of cartoons from cartoonists around Australia (December 2006 – March 2007)
Dhari a Krar: Headdresses and Masks from the Torres Strait: developed in collaboration with the Cairns Regional Art Gallery, this exhibition brought together a diverse collection of masks, headdresses and dance objects from the Torres Strait (July 2006 – July 2011)
Captivating and Curious: displayed the National Museum's varied collection, with new acquisitions and old favourites from the National Historical Collection (December 2005 – March 2006)[37]
In Search of the Birdsville Track: An Artist in the Outback: featured sketches and writings donated to the museum's collection byNoelle Sandwith that capture the unique environment, characters and lifestyles of theBirdsville Track (June–October 2005)
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2004: a selection of the best works entered in the 2004 political cartooning competition (March–June 2005)
Extremes: Survival in the Great Deserts of the Southern Hemisphere: explored some of the world's great southern deserts, tracing the history, culture and commonalities of Southern Africa'sNamib andKalahari deserts, South America'sAtacama, and Australia'sRed Centre (December 2004 – August 2005)
Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2003: brought together a selection of the best works entered in the National Museum of Australia's 2003 Political Cartooning Competition (May–June 2004)
Royal Romance: examined Australia's passionate response to QueenElizabeth II's firstvisit to Australia in 1954, and whether the nation has fallen out of love since (February–October 2004)[38]
Paipa: explored Torres Strait Islander migration and the continuing strong cultural connections between mainland communities and the Torres Strait (July 2002 – July 2006)
Nation: Symbols of Australia: from theHills Hoist clothes line to the legend ofANZAC, this exhibition approached Australian history through Australian symbols (March 2001 – January 2010)
Horizons: The Peopling of Australia since 1788: traced stories of human relocation and looked at howimmigration to Australia has shaped Australia (March 2001 – October 2007)
In the annual Australian Tourism Awards, the National Museum was named Australia's Major Tourist Attraction in both 2005 and 2006.[39] The museum was named winner of the Canberra and Capital Region's Tourism Award for Major Tourist Attraction five years running from 2003 to 2007.[40]
^scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Infrastructure, Transport (19 April 2011)."National Museum of Australia Act 1980". scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=Office Parliamentary Counsel; address=Locked Bag 30 Kingston ACT 2604; contact=+61 2 6120 1400 – via www.legislation.gov.au.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Reid, Richard (2011),Not just Ned: a true history of the Irish in Australia (1st ed.), National Museum of Australia Press,ISBN978-1-876944-82-7
^Higgins, Matthew; Bach, Joanne; McNaught, Pip; National Museum of Australia (2006),Between the flags: 100 years of surf lifesaving: a traveling exhibition presented by the National Museum of Australia, National Museum of Australia Press,ISBN978-1-876944-49-0
^Jaggard, Edwin, ed. (2006),Between the flags: one hundred summers of Australian surf lifesaving, UNSW Press,ISBN978-0-86840-897-2
^Captivating & curious: celebrating the collection of the National Museum of Australia, National Museum of Australia Press, 2005,ISBN978-1-876944-37-7
^A royal romance: Queen Elizabeth II's 1954 tour of Australia, National Museum of Australia, 2004,ISBN978-1-876944-27-8
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