National Museum of Australia - Gallery highlights archive

The Australian Journeys gallery explores the journeys of people to and from Australia and the social, political and economic impacts of those journeys. Here are some of the objects that were previously on show in the gallery. These objects are from the National Museum's collections, unless otherwise stated.

All photos by George Serras, Lannon Harley, Dragi Markovic and Dean McNicoll, unless otherwise stated.

View some of the objects currently on display

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A leather covered case with a metal clasp on one side which opens to reveal an oval glass ambrotype photograph of a man wearing a suit and cravat. The photo is contained within a gold frame. The case is lined on both sides with black velvet which provides a background against which both sides of the photo can be seen. The leather on the case is worn and one side is completely detached from the body of the case.

Remembering a Canadian gold miner

In 1856 Alexander Mussen sailed from Canada for the Australian goldfields. Mussen was the son of a prosperous Montreal merchant.

He travelled in search of wealth and adventure, and to find a new life so he might redeem himself in the eyes of his family.

Twenty-two-year-old Mussen moved to 'Nuggety Gulley' in New South Wales to put half the world between him and the friends who had drawn him into debt and disgrace. He was shot dead by a bushranger while trying to protect a local store.

A few years before Mussen travelled to New South Wales he sat for an ambrotype portrait. The photographer was Mathew Brady, now well known for his photographs of the American Civil War. It seems that Mussen left this portrait with his family in Montreal, where it became a treasured memento of a son who never returned.

Listen to 'Stories of sadness and loss' audio
Curator Laina Hall detailed her research into Alexander Mussen in a presentation at the National Museum on 13 June 2009. The talk also covered the Muriel McPhee trousseau and convict tokens.

'Race to the Gold Diggings of Australia' children's board game

A hand-coloured lithographic playing board made of eight paper sections mounted on linen, with a polygonal twelve-sided teetotum or spinning dice and three small painted metal playing pieces in the shape of tall ships. A varnished wooden box and an instruction sheet have been placed beside the game board.

Imagining a journey to the gold diggings

Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip: in the English imagination of the 1850s, these names became synonymous with gold, opportunity and adventure.

Thousands of British men and women boarded ships for the three-month journey to Victoria, braving separation and shipwreck for the chance to make a quick fortune.

In England in the 1850s, stories about life on the goldfields and advice for potential emigrants were in high demand.

One company produced the board game, 'Race to the Gold Diggings of Australia'. It invites children to imagine the excitement and wealth promised by a journey to the far reaches of the British Empire.

Explore the 'Gold Rush' interactive

'Red Lady with Laurel Wreath' sketch by Adelaide Ironside

A red crayon sketch featuring an image of a woman's face. She is wearing a laurel wreath and her eyes are downcast.

First Australian artist to study abroad

Adelaide Ironside was the first Australian-born artist to study in Europe. In 1855, she sailed for Rome, determined to master the art of fresco painting.

This crayon sketch was completed in 1856. While abroad Ironside also completed Saint Catherine of Alessandria as Patroness of Philosophy, her first oil on canvas. It was shown to acclaim at the 1862 London International Exhibition.

Lent by a private collector.

Pocket chronometer used on board HMS 'Beagle'

A chronometer with a silver-coloured face featuring two hands and Roman numerals around the edge. A smaller dial with two hands and numbers 10 - 60 in tens is at the bottom of the face.

Charles Darwin's time in Australia

Charles Darwin travelled as a naturalist on board the Beagle during its scientific expedition around the world from 1831 to 1836.

In 1836 he made observations on Australia's natural history, which contributed to the development of the theory of evolution.

This chronometer, made by the British watchmaker Robert Pennington, was one of 22 carried aboard the Beagle. Only two survive today.

Lent by the British Museum.

Several chronometers are on show in the Australian Journeys gallery, along with a film which shows an 1825 Barraud chronometer from the National Museum's collection at work.

View the 1825 Barraud chronometer at work (MPEG4 4.2mb) duration 01:44

Sir George Reid's walking stick

Ebony walking stick with a curved top, a small silver metallic band and a metal cap at both ends.

A statesman's journeys to Britain

In 1916 Australian politician Sir George Reid took his seat as the Member for St George's Hanover Square in the United Kingdom's House of Commons.

Reid came to Westminster having served in both the New South Wales and Commonwealth parliaments, including terms as premier and prime minister. He is the only Australian to have ever sat in all three parliaments.

He had played a critical role in the federation of the Australian colonies, and had been Australia's first high commissioner in London.

As well-known for his girth as for his compelling speeches, Reid relied on a walking stick to get around. In July 1917 British prime minister David Lloyd George gave Reid this walking stick in acknowledgement of his support during the Great War.

Listen to 'George Reid: A journey through three parliaments' audio
Senior curator Martha Sear detailed her research on George Reid's walking stick in a presentation at the National Museum on 13 August 2008.

Tania Verstak's national costume

See the costume up close
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Australia wins Miss International

As Miss Australia 1961, Tania Verstak travelled to California to compete for the title of Miss International. Wearing her 'national costume', Verstak spoke of how, as an adopted daughter of Australia, she was grateful to live in a land so full of opportunity. In front of 7000 spectators and millions of American television viewers Verstak was crowned Miss International for 1963.

Verstak was welcomed home to Sydney by huge cheering crowds. The lord mayors of Sydney and Manly held civic receptions in her honour and she was congratulated by the Minister for Immigration and the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, for representing Australia so well on the global stage.

Miss Australia crown collection highlight

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