Page 211 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

C ANBERR A AND A C T  209

The Harvest of Endurance scroll, depicting the 1861 Lambing Flat Riots, in the National Museum of Australia
eNational Museum It not only illuminates their
of Australia history but also deals frankly
with contemporary social issues.
Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. Displays include Central
Tel (02) 6208 5000 or 1800 026 132.
@ 7, 81, 934, 981. Open 9am–5pm Australian desert art, stone tools
daily. Closed 25 Dec. 7 8 by and Aboriginal jewellery made
arrangement. & (special exhibitions). from Tasmanian seashells and a
- = ∑ nma.gov.au Torres Island outrigger canoe.
In the Landmarks gallery,
Established by an Act of discover how Australia’s cities,
Parliament in 1980, the National towns and communities have
Museum of Australia moved to developed throughout history.
its permanent home on the The displays explore the ways Untitled
Untitled
Untitled by Charlie Alyungurra, in the First by Charlie Alyungurra, in the First
Acton Peninsula in early 2001. people have engaged with Australians gallery
It shares its location with the landscapes, flora, fauna and
Australian Institute of Aboriginal technologies to build the which then become part of
and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Australia we recognise today. the collection.
The innovative, purpose-built The Journeys exhibition reviews The museum also acknow-
facility quickly became an how immigration has shaped ledges the significance of the
architectural landmark. Its the country. Since 1788 more land in Australia’s identity. In
unique design was inspired by than 10 million people have Old New Land, the relationship
the idea of a jigsaw puzzle. arrived in Australia as between people and the
Before beginning a tour of the immigrants, and this gallery environment is examined.
museum, visitors can experience uses individual stories, as well as The landscaping of the
an audiovisual introduction to objects from the museum’s museum is also notable and
the museum in the Circa, a novel collection, to look at the includes the striking Garden
rotating cinema. A huge, three- remarkable diversity of the of Australian Dreams, which
dimensional map of Australia is Australian experience. incorporates many symbols
visible from three floors. Using One of the more moving of Australian culture. The
digital animation and interactive exhibitions is Eternity, in which Backyard Café spills out into
media stations, it helps to the personal stories of 50 the innovative garden.
place the displays in their Australians are brought to life. In addition, the museum
geographical context. The intention of this unique hosts a range of temporary
The permanent exhibitions display is to explore history exhibitions. There are also
explore the people, events and through emotion. “Your Story”, an children’s galleries and
issues that have shaped and interactive exhibit, allows visitors performance spaces, as well
influenced the country. The to record their own stories, as a television broadcast studio.
museum’s aim is to be a focus
for sharing stories and
promoting debate, and inter-
active displays involve visitors
by inviting their contributions.
The First Australians
gallery is the largest permanent
exhibition and relates the stories The
and experiences of Aboriginal Mermaid Coffin by
and Torres Strait Islander people. Gaynor Peaty, in Eternity