28 October 2005 to 19 February 2006

The Waterhole is presented by OzLink Entertainment in partnership with the Melbourne Museum. The exhibition is based on Graeme Base's picture book The Waterhole published by Penguin Books.

The above graphic is a detail from The Waterhole by Graeme Base.

Down to the secret waterhole the animals all come
As seasons bring forth drought and flood, they gather there as one
United in their common need, their numbers swell to ten,
But hidden deep amongst the trees lie ten times that again!
The Waterhole - Graeme Base

This beautiful exhibition provides visitors with a life-size, three-dimensional experience of Graeme Base's exquisitely illustrated book, The Waterhole. The book features continents from across the globe, telling the story of a slowly shrinking waterhole and the affect it has on the animals that rely on it.

This clever and interactive work not only inspires children about the important role water plays in the survival of the world's ecosystems, but also helps them identify the different animals found on each continent with many species hidden in the main illustrations for kids to find.

The author's original worksheets are on display, along with an explanation of how he created the book.