Behind the scenes
Go behind the scenes and explore object conservation, installation and the preparation of multimedia material for the Landmarks gallery. Visit our Developing the gallery page for more.
Phar Lap's heart installation
Phar Lap's heart is installed in its new home in the Flemington exhibit.
Phar Lap's heart photography
Phar Lap's heart gets a photo shoot!
Governor Lachlan Macquarie's sword installation
National Museum conservators install a sword once owned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
Giant Griffin puppets installation
The giant Walter and Marion Griffin puppets are relocated to their new home in the Castlecrag exhibit.
Installing an artwork
Artists install Fire and Roots 3, an artwork made from the gnarled roots of mallee eucalypt trees, into the Keith exhibit.
View a time-lapse video of the artists at work (MPEG 4 3.8mb) duration 31 seconds
Excavator bucket installation
The National Museum takes up the challenge involved in moving and installing a 15-tonne rock shovel bucket into the gallery.
Excavator bucket arrival
A 15-tonne bucket used at Rio Tinto Limited's Mt Tom Price iron ore mine arrives at the Museum's repository in preparation for display in the Landmarks gallery.
Brisbane Stock Exchange board conservation
The Museum's conservators give a selection of trading boards from the Brisbane Stock Exchange some special treatment.
On set with 'Dash' the Australian Koolie
The Museum films Dash, a friendly and very smart Australian Koolie herding dog.
Interviewing John Heath
John Heath, a member of the Birpai community, is interviewed about the Thomas Dick collection of photographs from Port Macquarie.
WJ Macdonnell telescope film shoot
The Museum undertakes a film shoot with astronomical engineer Hermann Wehner, who demonstrates how to set up an observing sessions on the 1883 telescope.
Museum taxidermy gets a hairdo
Conservator Cathy Collins gives the Museum's taxidermied merino special treatment.
A 'cool burn' on the Gundary Plains
Museum curator George Main and photographer George Serras witness a 'cool burn' by the Gundary Rural Fire Brigade at the a travelling stock reserve near Goulburn.
Blaxland clock conservation
Specialist horological conservator Peter Bucke closely examines and documents the condition of the Blaxland clock.
Chinese processional costume material analysis
Museum conservators investigate materials used in Chinese processional costume embroidery.
Bullion box analysis
Who can resist the fascination of a long locked door? Not us. A locked mid-19th century bullion box presents a mystery for Museum staff.
Removal of objects from the Nation gallery
Museum staff and contractors remove all objects from display in the Nation gallery during February 2010.
Ben Chifley's chair restored for display
A chair used by former prime minister Ben Chifley is treated by conservators to stabilise existing damage and restore its former appearance.
Melbourne Cup jockey silks conservation
National Museum textile conservators conduct treatments on two historic jockey silks in preparation for their display in the new Landmarks gallery.
Kenya windmill conservation
A large windmill which stood on a Queensland station for more than 80 years is re-assembled in readiness for display in the Landmarks gallery.
Preparing a saint's relics
Conservators prepare some of Mary MacKillop's former possessions for an exhibit in the Landmarks gallery.