From the vault – stay at home inspiration | National Museum of Australia

Stay at home inspiration

Our doors in Canberra may be closed, but we still have our nation’s incredible stories to share with you.

In a new weekly series we'll be highlighting exhibitions and objects that you can access from home, along with videos, interactives and much more. There will be something for everyone — families, kids and adults alike.

We’re all adjusting to life in the time of COVID-19. Here are some things that inspire and engage us.

Bridging the Distance via Facebook

Silhouette of a person looking out of a window with a blue sky beyond. - click to view larger image — Bridging the Distance

Our Facebook group, Bridging the Distance – Sharing our COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences, is an incredible place to feel inspired and connected in a time of social distancing. We love to start the day by scrolling through our feed to see heart-warming stories from Australians all over the world.

We’ve already got over 2000 members sharing their personal experiences. We’ve seen photos and read stories that have made us laugh, and some that have made us cry. And we’ve felt a deep sense of community which we really appreciate in these unpredictable times.

If you don’t have Facebook, you can also join the conversation by:

adding a comment below
writing to Curator, National Museum, GPO Box 1901, Canberra ACT 2601.

The Museum will keep the content shared on Facebook as a record of these unprecedented times. We are also looking to develop an exhibition based on the stories that have been shared.

Taking a tea break with our collection

Display featuring a ceramic tea set including three teapots, a sugar basin, a milk jug, a teacup and three teacup saucers. - click to view larger image — Ceramic toy tea set

One of the perks of working at the Museum is that you can explore objects on your break.

Although we’ve missed working on site in Acton, we are still able to look at Museum objects in our online Collection Explorer. The best thing? You can search the objects!

So when you’re working from home, treat yourself to a tea break and browse our awesome collection. This is what we got when we looked up ‘tea’.

Diving into a Defining Moment

Engraving featuring a man in a canoe, leaning over the side with a spear poised above his right arm. - click to view larger image — Engraving of Pemulwuy by Samuel John Neele after James Grant’s image

We love getting to know more about Defining Moments in Australian History.

Learn about Aboriginal warrior Pemulwuy’s resistance to the incursion of Sydney colonists onto his people’s traditional lands.

We have hundreds of moments to explore, so dive in and see what you come up with. We share Australia’s Defining Moments on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Celebrating Play School’s birthday

Exhibition display featuring three window frames. One is in the shape of an arch, one is in the shape of a circle and one is in the shape of a square. In the foreground is a yellow picket fence and exhibition text on Plexiglas which reads ‘which window is your favourite?’ - click to view larger image

Happy Birthday Play School: Celebrating 50 Years is a collaboration between the Museum and our friends at the ABC.

The exhibition opened at the National Museum in May 2016, and has since been touring the country. We hope West Australian audiences get a chance to see it for themselves once galleries and museums re-open.

For everyone at home, you can check out objects and videos from the exhibition online. Our favourite part of Play School was going through the window.

We’ll keep bringing you objects and collections as part of the Museum from home experience.

Rocket Clock from Play SchoolA large clock in the shape of a rocket with a red cylindrical wooden base, a light blue perforated metal skirt covered in vertical plastic rods, a light pink wooden trunk and painted striped cone top. Half of the rocket is cut away to form a platform upon which dioramas are positioned. The rocket clock has a yellow dial on one s...

Collection highlights

Top