National Museum of Australia launches new environmental gallery and children’s discovery centre

The National Museum of Australia in Canberra has launched two new galleries in its biggest redevelopment since opening to the public in 2001, with the $34 million revamp reimagining more than one-third of the building.

The Museum has launched the groundbreaking Great Southern Land environmental gallery and the innovative children’s Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre.

The Great Southern Land gallery was designed by the renowned New York-based Local Projects, best known for their acclaimed work on the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

The Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is a fun, immersive play space designed and curated for children aged 0–6, their families and carers.

National Museum Director, Dr Mathew Trinca, said the two new galleries represent a major new offering to the Australia public.

Dr Trinca advised “this is a pivotal moment in the history of the National Museum, and I am thrilled to see the years of hard work and planning come to fruition in the incredible Great Southern Land environmental gallery and the remarkable Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre.

“The National Museum is celebrating more than 20 years of engagement with the Australian public and these new developments will see it go from strength to strength in the decades ahead.”

Federal Arts Minister, Tony Burke welcomed the redevelopment and on the new galleries noted “I’m particularly excited about the role they will play in showcasing the connection First Nations people have to country.

“I’m confident that audiences of all ages will walk away feeling educated and inspired by the diverse cultural experiences on offer.”

The Great Southern Land gallery explores our fundamental relationship to the land, incorporating the stories of the First Peoples who have lived on the continent for at least 65,000 years and the stories of all those who followed.

National Museum Council member and Indigenous Reference Group Chair, Fiona Jose, said the new gallery celebrates the stories of Australia’s deep history and First Peoples.

“Stories of how First Nations peoples have belonged to, and cared for, Country over countless generations are woven throughout the gallery. This new gallery shows how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge of this ancient continent is a heritage all Australians can draw on, and key to meeting our shared responsibility to heal and nourish the land,” Jose said.

The Great Southern Land gallery explores the vast and complex Australian continent, its ancient origins, geological features, unique species, natural forces, and the part humans play in the ecosystem. It features exciting interactive and immersive digital experiences relating to Australia’s unique environment and natural history.

The gallery features more than 2,000 objects, and rich multi-sensory experiences show how the continent has changed over time and how those changes can guide the nation through future challenges.

The Discovery Centre invites children to explore Australia’s iconic animals and stories, including kangaroos and bunyips, an early explorer’s cat, and social media star Chris the sheep.

Australian philanthropists Tim and Gina Fairfax supported the development of the new dedicated children’s play and education space and commented “this new centre was designed to engage children with Australian stories and the work of the Museum. It provides interactive educational play onsite, and facilities to reach regional and remote communities.”

As part of the Great Southern Land gallery launch, the National Museum will display in its Gandel Atrium, a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 synthesiser, which is the same model of instrument used by Iva Davies, from the iconic rock band ICEHOUSE, to compose the 1982 hit song of the same name, ‘Great Southern Land’.

Davies shares “Back in 1982 when I created the title ‘Great Southern Land’ for a song I was writing, I had no idea what an impact it would have on listeners everywhere, and especially Australian listeners.

“To have the song included as a part of the incredible project, that the National Museum of Australia has undertaken, to trace the history, diversity and the magic of our country is very humbling.”

To coincide with the gallery launch, ICEHOUSE has announced a one-off concert, supported by Mix 106.3, as part of its national Great Southern Land 2022 – The Concert Series which will be held at the National Museum of Australia on Friday 4th November 2022.

Tickets to the 4th November concert go on sale at 9am on Friday 16 September 2022.

Images from top: Great Southern Land explores life across the Australian continent, featuring large-scale projections of underwater ocean scenes and a dynamic soundscape; Shell specimens from along the WA coast, where the warm Leeuwin Current flows, and dhufish ceramics. The dhufish were donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Trevor Kennedy; Come face-to-face with a 4.5 metre taxidermied saltwater crocodile, alongside the canoe in which Australian environmental philosopher Val Plumwood was attacked by a saltwater crocodile at Kakadu National Park in 1985; Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre Chris the sheep; Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre climb aboard Matthew Flinders’ ship. All images credit: National Museum of Australia