Why change?
As the National Museum of Australia, our role is to develop, preserve and exhibit a significant collection – Australia’s National Historical Collection. Extensions to the cafe and the administration wing will enable the Museum to use the Hall to provide access to a selection of large objects currently stored in our off-site repositories.
How much will it cost?
The combined cost of the cafe and the administration extension will be about $11m. The Museum is using its capital reserves to fund these projects. This funding is separate from the government funding the Museum receives to operate the Museum.
How long will it take?
The project will be complete in late 2012.
Will the construction have an impact on visitors?
It will not affect the activities offered by the Museum. We will operate as usual throughout the construction process. All permanent galleries will remain open, the cafe will continue to operate and we will continue to have public programs.
The catering contractors will use coffee carts for the short time that construction work occurs in the immediate vicinity of the cafe.
We recognise that the Museum is an informal meeting place for a variety of groups. While the new public spaces will be somewhat smaller than those currently available, there will still be room to accommodate larger groups.
There will be an impact on traffic patterns, parking, disability access, foot paths and bike paths, but we’ll do our best to minimise it. Traffic and other signage will be posted and we will publish detailed maps when the plans are finalised.
Will the construction have an impact on bus and coach drivers?
There are some changes to traffic, access and parking:
- the drop off area near the front door of the Museum remains the same
- there are temporary traffic lights controlling access to the drop off / pick up point
- the bus and coach parking bays have been moved to Lawson Crescent (the road near Lake Burley Griffin).
Why have the foot and cycle paths around the back of the Museum changed? How long will this last?
The Museum has a duty of care to all visitors to our site. In order to ensure the safety of people on foot and cyclists we have fenced off the construction areas including the paths around the back side of the Museum.
We expect all work to be completed in late 2012 and the paths to reopen. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Will the construction affect the nurses memorial?
No, the Royal Canberra Hospital Memorial and foundation stone will remain in its current location.
Will it affect Friends membership and benefits?
Friends will maintain the existing benefits such as regular events, special previews and discounts at the shop and cafe.
Work on the Friends lounge
Work on the new lounge began in May 2012. By the end of June, Friends will have a new lounge with better access for wheelchairs and prams, and a new outdoor seating area.
During the renovations, Rowlands Catering are offering Friends members a further discount on tea and coffee at the Cuiseum cafe at $2.00 a cup on presentation of a current Friends membership card.
The Friends office will still be open and operating during this time. If you are in the Museum and need to contact the office, please see a Host at the Information Desk.
Why do you need a new cafe?
An enjoyable cafe experience is an important element of museum visits.
Our new 200-seat cafe will offer visitors a variety of catering options from a quick coffee to a substantial meal. Extensive windows and outdoor seating on the deck will enable visitors to take full advantage of the Museum's magnificent waterfront location and the uninterrupted views of Lake Burley Griffin.
The cafe will include an informal space where Museum visitors can relax in soft chairs with coffee or tea while reading the paper or checking emails and messages using the free wifi.
Will the cafe change the architectural design of the building?
No, it will be consistent with the current design. The cafe’s architects have extended the original building concept based on a Boolean loop or string. The cafe sits at the end of the imaginary line that underpins the architectural concept.
to the location of new cafe (the yellow area at the end of the loop).
Why does the Museum need a new administration building?
The administration extension project will allow the Museum to consolidate staff scattered across multiple locations on the Acton Peninsula. We will be able to convert former offices in the main building to exhibition space for displaying more of our collection.
Where is the new administration wing going to be?
The new wing will sit between the main building and our administration annexe (the former hospice building).
How will it look?
The new building’s cladding will have brightly coloured tiles arranged in a pattern based on QR codes. The tile colours are drawn from heat-mapping technology that accommodates the range of colours on the existing main Museum building and the administration annexe.
Will the work affect the heritage value of the annexe?
The Heritage-listed annexe will be maintained and protected. The interior will be refurbished and the Museum has sought the advice of heritage specialists in the development of the interior and exterior concepts. All documented heritage features of the building will be protected.
Ask us
We're interested in your questions. Please contact us at yourcomments@nma.gov.au if you have further questions about the Museum development project. We will continually update our website so that you can follow its progress.
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