Explore museums & galleries

ACT - Explore Canberra's magnificent museums & galleries

The nation's capital is livelier and more fascinating than ever. Canberra's new landmark, the National Museum of Australia, is billed as the 'people's museum' and is the first in the country devoted to the stories of Australia and Australians.

National Museum of Australia

What makes it such a talking point? Try designing a museum that represents what happens when people of hundreds of different nationalities, races and religions settle in a country that was already occupied for thousands of years.

The National Museum takes as its starting point the three essential themes of Australia - land, people and nation. The best place to start exploring is in Circa, a dazzling multimedia experience that will take you on a rich journey through those themes. After that, follow your own path through the museum and let yourself learn and absorb the impressions it offers.

The National Museum contains five permanent exhibitions. Horizons describes one of the most remarkable migration stories in history - that of Australia since 1788. Eternity presents stories from the emotional heart of Australia. Tangled Destinies explores the relationship between Australians and the land. Nation focuses on impressions and symbols of national identity. And the First Australians Gallery is a vital introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Special exhibitions are also hosted at the museum. The first was Australia's Lost Kingdoms, which tracked the lives of our unique prehistoric animals, including dinosaurs and giant marsupials.

All in all, the museum is a hugely ambitious project, destined to evolve in coming years. For an enriching experience, adopt an open mind and give yourself plenty of time to explore it. When your feet get too tired to explore any more and you need refreshment, there are two excellent cafes and a restaurant.

It's not hard to find the museum, either - situated on the Acton Peninsula, on Lake Burley Griffin, its vibrant colours and dramatic archway are a dramatic contract to the lush greens and blues of Canberra.

National Gallery of Australia

Meanwhile, over at the National Gallery of Australia, things are happening too. For a start, there's the gallery's acquisition, After Cezanne, by 'England's greatest living painter' Lucian Freud. See this enormous, important work and you'll understand why it has tongues wagging.

While you're there, catch up on the gallery's first brush with controversy, Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles. More than 25 years after its purchase, it still rings with artistic and historical resonance. The painting is the subject of a new book, The Prime Minister's Christmas Card. The Blue Poles jigsaw puzzle, available at the gallery shop, should keep even the most ardent puzzler going for a while.

The National Gallery regularly shows important exhibitions, with highlights in 2001 including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and the Mexican Modernists, and Modern Australian Women - Paintings and Prints.  

Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House is always worth a visit. For one thing, it's the home of our burgeoning National Portrait Gallery. These representations of famous (and infamous) Australians - from the country's pioneers to singer Nick Cave and sprinter Cathy Freeman - are an illuminating way to look at history.

And if you feel like reliving the dismissal of Gough Whitlam, take a seat in the specially recreated 1970s living room to watch the gripping story unfold on TV. Yes, it's the original footage, complete with the TV ads of the day.

Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial, meanwhile, is regarded as one the world's best military museums. Dedicated to the sacrifice of Australians who have died in war, it holds an extensive collection of art, photographs and rare film and sound recordings.

It's not all for grown-ups, either. Kids can dress up as soldiers, sailors or nurses to aid the learning process and there are multimedia exhibits as well as aircraft, tanks and artillery on display.

National Film and Sound Archive

If you've got time, don't miss out on the National Film and Sound Archive. It's home to the nation's audiovisual heritage and offers exhibitions, theatres, live presentations as well as a library and state-of-the-art technical facilities.

Courtesy of ACT Tourism