Museum Archives - Page 7 of 44 - Destination's Journey

21 February 202310 February 2023

Art Gallery of NSW North Building

Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami

Art Gallery of NSW North Building

The Art Gallery of NSW new North Building displays contemporary art, with an emphasis on Indigenous Australian art. The building reflects this with bright well lit rooms and colourful displays. A highlight is the use of its basement, an old storage tank as a display space.

Getting There

Located, to the north of the original Art Gallery (now the South Building), it’s walkable from the Sydney CBD. We used the train from Central Station, getting off at St. James and walking, although buses can also be used. If you drive, the Domain carpark would be the closest option.

Arriving before opening time, we took some photos of the giant sculptures outside and then had a coffee at the café opposite the entrance.

Inside

With four levels, there is plenty of space to display artworks. The ground floor has an amazing display of Indigenous art and its great that this is the first gallery you see on entering. Previously displayed at the South Building the collection now has pride of place at the entrance.

The next two levels down display a series of contemporary art in addition to having access to outside galleries. Here we found an amazing flower sculpture, as well as a Buddhist Temple.

Lower Level 4 – The Tank

The highlight though was The Tank. Level 4 used to be an underground oil storage tank, but has been repurposed as an art space. Access is via a spiral staircase, which you descend into increasing darkness. Left deliberately dark, with the original columns still in place, it’s eerie, with lights moving on the ceiling, slowly brightening and dimming to highlight the sculptures there.

Before entering, you are warned that the area is dark and claustrophobic, so that you know what to expect. Numerous staff patrol the space, ensuring everyone obeys the rules (no flash photos) and remains safe.

We loved it, the sculptures were unworldly and the empty spaces and columns eerie.

Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard Art Gallery of NSW North Building — Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard

Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

16 February 202310 February 2023

Glasshouse Port Macquarie Arts and Visitor Centre

Connecting with Country by Sonia Shields and Where are we Now by Katrina Mane

Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre Port Macquarie

Housing the Port Macquarie Theatre, Regional Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre, the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre is a great place to visit, because not only does it have these things, but there are ruins in the basement!

If you want to find out what to see and do, or find accommodation, this is the place to go. The staff are super friendly and helpful and do their best to help you out.

In the basement, original foundations from the previous building in the area have been preserved. Other artifacts found during excavation are also on display.

Displayed in the foyer are PK Sparkles and Lady Lola the Dancing Koala from the Hello Koala Sculpture Trail. If you’re following the trail to see the koalas you get to see two in one location.

Behind the koalas the Regional Art Gallery had some interesting artworks on display. They feature a range of contemporary, indigenous, historical, traditional, design and sculptural artworks. During the course of the year, they rotate up to 20 exhibitions through the gallery, including touring exhibitions.

Koala statue Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre Port Macquarie — PK Sparkles

10 February 202310 February 2023

Royal Australian Mint

Situated in Deakin, Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, The Royal Australian Mint makes all of Australia’s coins as well as some for international customers.

Parking

The Mint has its own visitor carpark, so parking isn’t an issue. Well sign posted, the building is also easy to find.

What’s There

On entry, you are greeted with a display of $1 coins spilling from a bucket (inside a class box, so no free samples!). If you have any questions, an information booth with a staff member will help.

All of the main displays are on the second level. Climbing the stairs, look at the faces of each step because they are filled with five-cent coins.

At the top, look up to see replica coins hanging from the ceiling.

The coins display takes you through the history of coins in Australia, starting at colonial times, through to the present. The transition to decimal currency is particularly well covered, showing the design process and many of the designs considered before settling on the ones we know.

Walking past the displays, you can view the working area of the mint through large windows. On a work day this area is bustling with activity, but we were there on a weekend so it was quiet. At the far end, you can sit on a stack of giant coins and watch the factory floor.

Gift Shop and Café

Located on the ground floor, the gift shop has everything about coins for sale. If you like to collect or invest in coins, you can buy collections of the current coins in circulation, or a set of gold coins to invest in.

Next to the gift shop The Mint Café sells food and drinks to refuel before or after your visit.

What Did We Think?

We were not sure what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised as to how good it was. The excellent display of coins and the history of decimal currency was very interesting and easy to follow. Visiting on a working day would be better so that you see the factory working.