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.
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'Race to the Gold Diggings of Australia' children's board game
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.
Read more about the 'Race to the Gold Diggings of Australia' game
Explore the 'Gold Rush' interactive'Red Lady with Laurel Wreath' sketch by Adelaide Ironside
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'
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.
Read more about Charles Darwin and his visit to Australia
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
'Ningkushum' (Freshwater shark), by Lesley Walmbeng, wooden sculpture from Cape Kerweer, Western Cape York Peninsula
Taking Indigenous art to the world
In 1962 men and women of the Wik people — the Aboriginal peoples of western Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland — organised a series of important totemic ceremonies.
Lesley Walmbeng created this shark sculpture for dances held at the Aurukun Mission station. The sculpture, now part of the National Museum collection, was originally collected by anthropologist Frederick McCarthy.
In 1988 curator Peter Sutton of the South Australian Museum selected the sculpture to appear in Dreamings, a large exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art that travelled to the United States. The sculptures first went on international display at the Asia Society Galleries on Park Avenue, New York.
Medal awarded to Francis Zavier Conaci
Two Aboriginal boys journey to Italy
A small group of Benedictine monks founded the mission of New Norcia on the Victoria Plains of Western Australia in 1846.
Their aim was to 'civilise' the Yuat — the local Aboriginal people — through education, religious instruction and agricultural work.
In 1849 two Yuat boys, John Baptist Dirimera and Francis Xavier Conaci, travelled to Europe with monk Dom Rosendo Salvado.
The boys joined the monastery at Cava, in Italy, to train as monks. There, for distinction in his examinations, Conaci won this medal.
Lent by New Norcia Monastery and Art Gallery.
Greek amphora given to Charmian Cliff and George Johnston
Two Australian writers in Greece
In 1954 Australian authors Charmian Clift and George Johnston moved from London to the Greek islands — first to Kalymnos and then Hydra.
They stayed in Greece for a decade, recording their discovery of island life in novels, travel books, short stories and essays.
A Kalymnian sponge diver presented this ancient amphora to Clift and Johnston. The 7th century BC - 7th century AD vessel was displayed in their homes in Greece. Clift and Johnston carried it with them when they returned to Australia.