Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

98  SY DNEY

0 Australian Museum

The Australian Museum, the nation’s leading natural
science museum, was founded in 1827 and was the first
established museum of Australian natural history.
The main building, an impressive sandstone structure
with a marble staircase, faces Hyde Park. Architect
Mortimer Lewis was forced to resign his position when
building costs began to far exceed the budget.
Construction was completed in the 1860s by James
Barnet. The collection provides a journey across Australia Original Museum Entrance
and the near Pacific, covering biology, and natural and The façade features massive
Corinthian square pillars or piers.
cultural history. The museum’s changing programme of
events includes expert talks, workshops, “Dinosnore”
sleepovers and behind-the-scenes looks at some of its Chapman Mineral
18 million objects. Collection

Planet of Minerals
This section features a
walk-through recreation of
an underground mine
with a display of gems
and minerals.
Rhodochrosite Cuprite

Crystal Hall Entrance
This glass entrance walkway on
William Street, which appeared on the Education
architect’s original plan, opened in 2015. Centre

Ground
. First Australians floor
From dreaming to the struggle for self-
determination and land rights, this exhibit
tells the stories of Australia’s first peoples.
Historic oric
Hist
Museum Guide original entrance
First Australians and the Long Gallery are on the T The Long Galleryhe Long Gallery, on
ground floor. Mineral and rock exhibits are on Level 1. the ground floor, provides
Birds and Insects can be found on Level 2, along with insights into 100 famous
Kidspace, Surviving Australia and Dinosaurs. Australians.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp482–3 and pp504–7