Destination's Journey

Tag: art gallery

  • Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

    Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

    Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

    Established in 1848 and conveniently located opposite Constitution Dock, in the centre of Hobart, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to discover Tasmania’s unique history. Covering natural history, aboriginal and European settlement to Antarctic exploration, there is something here to interest everyone. There is even a dinosaur at the entrance.

    Muttaburrasaurus Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
    Muttaburrasaurus Dinosaur Skeleton

    Indigenous Culture

    Several galleries explore Indigenous Tasmanian Aboriginal culture, from artefacts to artworks. Their treatment and subsequent genocide is treated in detail. Everyone visiting Tasmania should see it, so that they understand this part of history.

    • Canoe
      Aboriginal Bark Canoe
    • Woureddy (left) and Trucannini (right)
      Woureddy (left) and Trucannini (right)
    • Manalagerna (left) and Tanleboueyer (right) Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
      Manalagerna (left) and Tanleboueyer (right)

    Tasmanian Wildlife

    Most people won’t be able to see the unique Australian wildlife, so the display here is a great place to see what they look like. From echidna and platypus, the egg laying monotremes, to quolls and devils, you can see them all.

    Importantly, a display of the Thylacine, the Tasmanian Tiger shows what this now extinct marsupial looked like. The last one died in 1933 in Hobart Zoo, so now all that remains are the skeletons, stuffed displays and photos.

    • Echidna and Platypus
      Echidna and Platypus
    • Spotted-Tail Quol, Eastern Quol (dark) Eastern Quol (light), Tasmanian Devil
      Spotted-Tail Quol, Eastern Quol (dark) Eastern Quol (light), Tasmanian Devil
    • Tasmanian Tiger Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
      Tasmanian Tiger
    • Tasmanian Tiger Skeletons Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
      Male and Female Tasmanian Tiger Skeletons
    • Tasmanian Tiger Photos
      Tasmanian Tiger Photos

    Coins at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

    Containing bank notes and coins from colonial times to decimal currency, this small gallery is a good place to learn about Australian currency. One of the largest collections of Roman coins in the country can also be found here. So, if you are interested in how the currency has changed, it’s worth a visit.

    • Coin Display
      Coin Display
    • Coin Display
      Coin Display
    • Scales
      Scales

    Art Gallery

    The art gallery section of the museum contains an interesting collection of paintings and sculptures covering Tasmanian themes. We found the paintings and sculptures of Tasmanian aborigines the best part, as we had not seen them before.

    • Art Gallery Paintings Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
      Art Gallery Paintings
    • Art Gallery Displays
      Art Gallery Displays

    Antarctic Exploration

    Tasmania’s link to Antarctic exploration is on display with an amazing array of wildlife and explorer exhibits. A model of Mawson’s Hut shows how the explorers lived in the early 1900s. A photo gallery nearby puts a human face to the scientists and explorers, which is great because many museums only show physical displays.

    The wildlife displays give an idea of the abundant wildlife that exists there. We found this interesting, because we probably won’t travel there. The size of the seals and albatross was surprizing, because you don’t get an idea of how big they are from photos.

    • Antarctic Wildlife Display Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
      Antarctic Wildlife Display
    • Albatross
      Albatross
    • Huskies
      Huskies
    • Mawson's Hut
      Mawson’s Hut
    • Antarctic Exploration Photos
      Antarctic Exploration Photos

    What Did We Think?

    For a great insight into Tasmanian history this is a great place to visit, because it covers everything from pre colonial times, to Antarctic exploration and wildlife. Even though we have lived in Tassie, we found it interesting because of the wonderful exhibits and displays. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Hobart.

  • Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Sitting on the waterfront at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia provides a venue for international and local artists.

    Getting There

    In walking distance of Circular Quay, public transport is the easiest way to get here. Ferries, buses, trains and light rail all stop here, making it easy and convenient. Several carparks are located nearby if you want to drive.

    The Museum

    Near the entrance a metallic sculpture provides some great photo opportunities, because its design allowing unique views of the Opera House.

    During our visit one gallery was dedicated to David Malangi Daymirringu’s aboriginal artwork. They follow important sites, ceremonies, and stories that encompass ancestral knowledge connected to the artist’s Manharrngu clan of central Arnhem Land. Some of the photos below show his amazing work.

    As expected the remaining art on display ranged from weird and unique to strangely interesting. A fun place to walk around, especially if you want to see what current artist are producing.

    A cafeteria on the roof gives great views of Sydney Harbour as well as Circular Quay. We sat here for a while enjoying morning tea and watching the ferries going in and out of the Quay.

    What Did We Think?

    This was an interesting visit. The highlight was the indigenous artwork on display, which looked amazing. It was nice to see that the museum takes great pride in its support of aboriginal and Torres Strait artists. Open everyday except Mondays.

    • Museum of Contemporary Art
      Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art with the Opera House
    • Museum of Contemporary Art
      Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      David Malangi Daymirringu
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      By Indigenous Artist David Malangi Daymirringu
    • David Malangi Daymirringu
      David Malangi Daymirringu
    • Kate Just Anonymous is a Woman
      Kate Just Anonymous is a Woman
    • Robert MacPherson Tree Rain:16 Frog Poems (Yellow Monday) for J.C., 1990
      Robert MacPherson Tree Rain:16 Frog Poems (Yellow Monday) for J.C., 1990
    • Anna Kwasner
      Anna Kwasner
    • Museum of Contemporary Art Judith Wright Nature/Nurture
      Judith Wright Nature/Nurture

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

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  • State Library of New South Wales

    State Library of New South Wales

    State Library of New South Wales

    Located at 1 Shakespeare Place in the centre of Sydney, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia. Established in 1826, it moved to the current building in 1910. Designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, the heritage listed building has been expanded over the years as its collection has grown.

    Outside the Library

    The magnificent library building has several interesting statues on its grounds, which are worth looking for. To the right of the main entrance is a statue of Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke. Erected by the people of New South Wales, the statue commemorates Sir Richard Bourke’s governorship and administration. This was the first monument erected in Australia.

    Across the road from the entrance, is the Shakespeare Memorial, with figures representing Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Portia and Falstaff on the lower level, with Shakespeare standing above them. Located on a traffic island in the middle of a busy road, you need to be careful if getting close, because there is no pedestrian crossing to it.

    • State Library of New South Wales
      State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Building and Façade
    • Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke
      Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke
    • Shakespeare Memorial
      Shakespeare Memorial

    Matthew Flinders

    A statue of Matthew Flinders, the first person to circumnavigate Australia sits outside the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street.

    Statue of Matthew Flinders State Library of New South Wales
    Statue of Matthew Flinders – With the cat statue behind him on the window sill

    Flinders’ Cat

    Trim was a ship’s cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia in 1801–03. It sits on a window ledge of the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street, directly behind a statue of his owner. The plaque near the statue reads:


    TO THE MEMORY OF
    TRIM
    The best and most illustrious of his race.
    The most affectionate of friends,
    faithful of servants,
    and best of creatures.
    He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
    which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
    delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers. 
    Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat.
    Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society.

    Matthew Flinders’ Cat

    Vestibule

    The library’s vestibule contains a huge copy of the map of Australia made by Abel Tasman in the 1640’s. The original of this historical document is held in the library’s collection.

    • Tasman's Map of Australia
      Tasman’s Map of Australia

    The Library

    The main collection and reading room, the Mitchell Library Reading Room is adjacent to the vestibule. Being large and spacious with beautiful stain glass windows makes it an excellent place for quiet study.

    • Main Hall and Study Room State Library of New South Wales
      Mitchell Library Reading Room
    • Main Hall and Study Room State Library of New South Wales
      Mitchell Library Reading Room
    • Stain Glass Windows State Library of New South Wales
      Stain Glass Windows

    State Library of New South Wales Galleries

    Located on the upper floors of the gallery are several galleries. These contain an excellent collection of paintings and we spent some time wandering around.

    • Paintings in the Gallery
      Paintings in the Gallery
    • Paintings in the Gallery
      Paintings in the Gallery
    • Paintings in the Gallery

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