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National Museum curators share details of the work going on behind the scenes and their research into key collection objects considered in the development of the Landmarks: People and Places across Australia gallery, which traces a broad history of Australia since European colonisation.

Landmarks: behind the scenes with conservators

Following a background to the Landmarks gallery by Daniel Oakman, three of the Museum’s conservators shared the techniques and process used to prepare, treat and install the Kenya station windmill, one of the Springfield dresses, and Phar Lap’s heart.
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Presenters: Ainslie Greiner, Carmela Mollica, Nicki Smith and Daniel Oakman

The Melbourne Cup: 150 years of history

Curator Isa Menzies gives an insight into the Melbourne Cup, from the glitz and glamour to the seamy underside of horseracing in Australia.

The Chinese in Bendigo

Curator Anne-Marie Conde shares her work developing an exhibit on Bendigo as part of the gold module for the Landmarks: People and Places Across Australia gallery, covering in particular the development of the Chinese community from the 1850s.

Parliament for the people

Curator Jennifer Wilson explains how Australia’s first purpose-built home for the Australian Parliament was opened with suitable pomp and ceremony in Canberra on 9 May 1927.
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Presenters: Jennifer Wilson

Matthew Flinders in the Recherche Archipelago

Matthew Flinders sailed through the Recherche Archipelago in 1802 and 1803 on board the Investigator. Curator Pip McNaught shares her work developing a Landmarks’ exhibit and talks about Matthew Flinders and his cat, Trim.

The Sunshine harvester

For many decades, Sunshine Harvester Works was a significant landmark in Sunshine, a suburb in Melbourne’s industrial west. Curator Leah Bartsch explores research into the stories and objects of Sunshine.

Creating a colony: the European settlement of Tasmania 1803–1853

Curator Anthea Gunn talks about her research on the colonial settlement of Hobart and the expansion of Van Diemen’s Land in the early 1800s, as part of her work on the Creating a Country gallery.

Robe is not famous for robes

Curator Jennifer Wilson talks about her research into the fishing port of Robe in South Australia in the late 19th century, as an example of a place where people endeavoured to create a just society with equality of opportunity and participation.
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Presenters: Jennifer Wilson

The ‘spirit of inquiry’ in Port Macquarie

Curator and historian Roslyn Russell talks about the work of amateur scientists, including astronomer WJ Macdonnell, in the New South Wales coastal town of Port Macquarie.

Heavens above!

The Museum’s rare 1883 Grubb refractor telescope, used in early Australian astronomical observing programs and returned to working condition, is discussed by curator Kirsten Wehner, astronomer Vince Ford and astronomical engineer Hermann Wehner.
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Presenters: Vince Ford, Hermann Wehner and Kirsten Wehner

‘Never enough grass’ and Bowen Downs

The development of the Australian pastoral industry at Bowen Downs in Central Queensland, one of four places to be featured in the ‘Never enough grass’ module of the National Museum’s Creating a Country gallery, is outlined by curator George Main.

Introduction to the Creating a Country gallery

Curator Kirsten Wehner outlines the themes of the new Creating a Country gallery (now Landmarks). It looks broadly at the history of Australia since European colonisation of the continent in the late 18th century.
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Presenters: Dr Kirsten Wehner, National Museum of Australia
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