National Museum’s first major redesign finally ‘bold and imaginative’

The recently opened Great Southern Land gallery at the National Museum of Australia signals a triumph in the institution’s redevelopment, said Kylie Message.

The National Museum of Australia has just opened the most significant redevelopment in its history.

The exhibition is beautiful and sophisticated. Quiet where it needs to be quiet and boisterous and fun-loving in other parts, it engages all our senses as we gaze in wonder at the life-sized orca models suspended from the ceiling and squint to see the tiny fragments in display cases at knee level.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

The Conversation Australia and New Zealand is a unique collaboration between academics and journalists that in just 10 years has become the world’s leading publisher of research-based news and analysis.