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Tag: museum

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National Portrait Gallery Canberra

Photographic Portraits National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery Canberra

Opened in 2008, the National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of prominent Australians who are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest.

Located next o the High Court of Australia and across the road from the National Gallery of Australia, it’s easy to find. We parked at the Questacon Car Park, because we intended to see other attractions in the area. This is a paid car park, but there are usually spaces available, and it’s centrally located. Parking is available at the National Gallery, but this fills quickly.

On entering the gallery, you are met by the sculpture Geo Face Distributor, popularly known as the orange blob. Apparently you can see different faces depending on how you look at it, but we could only see a blob.

Walking around the galleries, we could identify many of the portraits, without reading the descriptions. Obvious Government officials (Quentin Bryce the Governor General) and Justice Michael Kirby were present, but not walls full of ex-Prime Ministers, which we were pleased about.

It was great to see actors like Deborah Mailman, Hugh Jackman and Ruth Cracknell along with cricketer Shane Warne. Important indigenous leaders like Pat Dodson and Richard Walley were also present.

What Did We Think?

This was an interesting gallery to visit because of the variety of people represented. Entry is free, unless you want to go to any special exhibits that are on. After finishing, we went next door to the National Gallery of Australia.

Geo Face Distributor by James Angus (popularly the giant orange blob)
Geo Face Distributor by James Angus (popularly the giant orange blob)
Photographic Portraits National Portrait Gallery
Photographic Portraits
Chrissy Amphlett by Ivan Durrant National Portrait Gallery
Chrissy Amphlett by Ivan Durrant
Ruth Cracknell by Rosemary Valadon National Portrait Gallery
Ruth Cracknell by Rosemary Valadon
Deborah Mailman by Evert Ploeg
Deborah Mailman by Evert Ploeg
Quentin Bryce by Michael Zavros National Portrait Gallery
Quentin Bryce by Michael Zavros
Patrick Dodson by Zhou Xiaoping
Patrick Dodson by Zhou Xiaoping
Richard Walley by Julie Dowling National Portrait Gallery
Richard Walley by Julie Dowling
Justice Michael Kirby by Ralph Heimans
Justice Michael Kirby by Ralph Heimans
Nell by Abbey McCulloch National Portrait Gallery
Nell by Abbey McCulloch
Hugh Jackman by Vincent Fantauzzo
Hugh Jackman by Vincent Fantauzzo

For other places to visit in the Australian Capital Territory click here

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Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

Crocoite

Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum Bathurst

Driving through Bathurst on our way to the Newnes Industrial ruins we discovered the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum. Surprised to find such an important collection located in regional New South Wales.

The Somerville Collection

Containing over 5,000 objects, the collection was the life’s work of Warren Somerville AM. It features some of the finest and rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world. Somerville donated the collection to the Australian Museum to ensure it remained intact. It is now on permanent display in Bathurst not far from his residence in Orange.

The mineral collection contains samples from over 100 Australian mines as well as international locations. Somerville traded samples from Australia to obtain the best available overseas. The minerals on display are amazing with spectacular crystals and colours.

Malachite
Malachite
Crocoite National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Crocoite
Calcite and Carbonate Mineral Display
Calcite and Carbonate Mineral Display
Uranocircite - Uranium Mineral
Uranocircite – Uranium Mineral
Azurite with Chrysocolla
Azurite with Chrysocolla
Scolecite
Scolecite
Crocoite
Crocoite

Fossils

Also part of the Somerville Collection, the fossil collection contains three dinosaurs, unique Australian opalized fossils and numerous examples from every stage of life on Earth. Dominating the collection is the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton because of its size. You are able to get up close to the display, because a small mezzanine floor is at T-Rex skull height.

The most unique fossils there are two plesiosaurs because their bones have been opalized. This is very unusual and was great to see.

Crinoid Fossil
Crinoid Fossil
Fish Fossils National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Fish Fossils
Ammonites
Ammonites
Ammonites Collection
Ammonites Collection
Trilobite Fossil National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Trilobite Fossil
Opalized Plesiosaur Skeleton
Opalized Plesiosaur Skeleton
Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton
Albertosaurus Skeleton National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Albertosaurus Skeleton
Tyrannosaurus Rex Skull
Tyrannosaurus Rex Skull

Albert Chapman Collection

Temporarily housed in Bathurst while the Australian Museum in Sydney is refurbished, the Albert Chapman Collection is a great addition to the Sommerville Collection. Considered one of the top ten collections in the world, it was purchased by the NSW Government in 1988.

Not only are there minerals from many Australian mines, but many important international specimens are included.

It was great to be able to see the collection in Bathurst, but will be even better when housed in its new display at the Australian Museum.

Malachite National Fossil and Mineral Museum
Malachite
Rhodochrosite Display
Rhodochrosite Display

What Did We Think Of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum ?

A great place to see two world-class collections, especially if you are interested in geology. Even if you just want to marvel at how some of the crystals could have formed, it’s worth going to. Of course, the T-Rex and dinosaur skeletons are a big drawcard and really make the visit interesting.

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

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National Dinosaur Museum

Life Size Triceratops outside the Museum

National Dinosaur Museum

One of the Australian Capital Territories’ main tourist attractions, the National Dinosaur Museum explains evolution through the use of fossils and interactive displays. Animatronics and recreated landscapes bring the displays to life, adding a lot of fun to the museum.

Outside the museum, a dinosaur-themed playground keeps the kids entertained, a life size Triceratops greets you at the entrance.

Life Size Triceratops outside the Museum
Life Size Triceratops outside the National Dinosaur Museum

Laid out chronologically, the displays take you though the evolution of life. Starting with invertebrates, displays of trilobites and giant scorpions explain some of the earlier life forms. Many of the displays are casts (these are clearly marked), but some are original. Even so, there is a great range of them.

Invertebrates

Trilobite
Trilobite
Giant Scorpion
Giant Scorpion

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Reptiles

The main focus of the museum is dinosaurs, with this section being the largest. Life-size recreations of pterodactyls fly overhead as you go up the stairs. Displays of life size models and skeletons follow, including T-Rex and carnotaurus. Many of these are surrounded by dioramas, giving more context to the display, rather than simply sitting on a display stand.

The stegosaurus display includes a side-by-side comparison of the skeleton and recreated model. This is great because many museums show only one or the other and not both.

Pteranodon
Pteranodon
Carnotaurus
Carnotaurus
Tyrannosaurus National Dinosaur Museum
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Stegosaurus skeleton National Dinosaur Museum
Stegosaurus skeleton
Stegosaurus reconstruction National Dinosaur Museum
Stegosaurus reconstruction

The Rise of Mammals

Following the dinosaurs, displays of mammals include a giant sloth, sabre tooth tiger and a mammoth skeleton. It was surprising to see how large the sloth was, having never seen one of these before.

Giant Sloth
Giant Sloth
Mammoth and Geodes
Mammoth and Geodes

Evolution of Mankind

The final fossil section traced the evolution of our own species from “Lucy” and homo habilis to the Neanderthals.

Australopithecus Afarensis "Lucy" National Dinosaur Museum
Australopithecus Afarensis “Lucy”
Human Evolution
Human Evolution
Human Evolution National Dinosaur Museum
Human Evolution

Geodes

The final area of the museum contains amethyst geodes. These are huge, making a great display around the mammoth.

A gift shop sells all sorts of dinosaur related merchandise, including models, fridge magnets and books. Especially interesting, were the fossils and gemstones for sale.

So, if you have an interest in dinosaurs, or have kids, this is a great visit. As Australia does not have many dinosaur fossils of its own (most are in Queensland), many are casts, but they are still a great display.

Amethyst Geode
Amethyst Geode

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