National Museum of Australia

Bringing to life rich and diverse stories of Australia. On Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri Country #OurNMA

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We have so much in store for this year’s International Day of People with Disability!

Join us for Community Day and a talk from Carly Findlay OAM, author of ‘Growing up Disabled in Australia.’

More info: https://t.co/61XrWiTSEa

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When we say "the Fifties" what do you think of?

We have a series of postcards called "the Fifties" that depicts Melbourne in the 1850s.

📷1) Collins St, Melbourne, 1950
📷2) Gt. Collins St., looking East, from Wesleyan Chapel, Melbourne, in the 'Fifties

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Answer: This is a metal router!

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This week’s #MysteryObject is taking shape 🙌

Today's version of this tool looks a bit different, but we reckon the older model would still do the job.

Do you know what it's used for?

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This stunning shield comes from southeastern Australia.

The carvings on its surface were made using stone and animal tooth tools, meaning it was likely made in the early 1800s, before steel tools were widespread.

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Today is the 165th Melbourne Cup!

Did you know the first Melbourne Cup was on a Thursday (7 November 1861)?

Holding the event on the first Tuesday of November wasn't made tradition until 1875.

📷: ‘Toryboy, Winner of the Melbourne Cup 1865’ by S. S. Knights, State Library Vic

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Can you guess what these items have in common? 🧐

We've got a brooch, made of gold and amethyst, a dust separator, a safety hook and a geologist's pick!

They're all from our collection, but that's not the only thing that ties them together.

Do you know the answer? 🤔

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Answer: These are laundry tongs!

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This week's #MysteryObject might look familiar, but it has a specific function.

Do you know what these are for?

Drop your guess in the comments 👇

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Happy Halloween! These wicked witch and spooky tree artworks are preparatory designs for Norman Hetherington's 1954 marionette performance of ‘The Magic Tinder-Box!

Even before his popular TV show Mr Squiggle, Hetherington's puppetry and artistry were delighting audiences.

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Do you have your Halloween costume picked out and ready to go? 🎃

We’re digging into our collection for some fit inspo.

Here’s what we came up with.

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Canberra Symphony Orchestra is returning to the Museum for a stunning evening show 😍

Titled ‘To Be Human’ this 1-hour performance asks the question, ‘Can AI be creative?’

📍National Museum of Australia, Gandel Atrium 📅 12 November, 6:30pm
Book tickets: https://t.co/BDQZpCqTKZ

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How did Australians represent themselves to other countries before federation? 🤔

Curator Suzanne Gibson is giving us a glimpse into the past with this pre-federation flag.

It was commissioned by Australian miners while they were in Canada for the Klondike gold rush in 1898.

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Have you explored the incredible Harvest of Endurance Scroll? 🧐

Created by artists Mo Xiangyi and Wang Jingwen in 1988, the 50-metre scroll depicts 200 years of connection between Australia and China.

Explore the rest of it: https://t.co/z9v5p7fYUb

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Answer: This is a winker press frame.

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Does this week's #MysteryObject get your stamp of approval?

If you know what it is, drop your answer in the comments!

We'll provide the answer on Monday.

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Did you know the Dutch encountered Australia (twice!) 150+ years before the British? 🤯

The second encounter actually happened #OnThisDay 410 years ago, when Dutch mariner Dirk Hartog landed at Western Australia.

Learn more: https://t.co/6MXFiDxKFF

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The Terracotta Warriors were not always the terracotta colour we see today.

Each warrior was once painted in vibrant colours to portray their rank in the army.

Terracotta Warriors: Immortality and Empire: https://t.co/yick4pEwDG
📸: Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Museum

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These 16th century maps feature Europe's early ideas of what the Great South Land might look like, before Australia was mapped by cartographers in the 1700s.

They provide a glimpse into the ancient myth of a Great South Land.

Study them in more detail: https://t.co/V6mHcwXvHY

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We present three objects! Can you tell us what they have in common? 🕵️

1) A hand-painted coin by Diana Bates – one of many handmade toys from her childhood in the ‘30s and ‘40s
2) A dress submitted to a fancy-dress competition in 1931
3) An improvised soap holder from the 1930s