Located in central Sydney, opposite the beautiful Hyde Park, the Australian Museum is a great place to visit when in one of Australia’s vibrant cities. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in Sydney, so in this blog, I will lead you through the layout and key exhibits in the Australian Museum and explore some differences in archaeology between Australia and Britain.
Layout
The museum itself is a grand structure, with sandstone walls and various decorative elements in a neo-classical style. There are 7 floors, one of which is a basement with a theatre and one is a group entrance. The rest – Levels 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 – are filled with exhibits. Let’s explore them…
As we entered through the glass walkway, we were faced with the reception desk and the giftshop opposite. The ground floor has multiple stairways, one of which leads to the Westpac Long Gallery which spans the 1st and 2nd level. This is a showcase of a variety of artefacts, including native species of birds, Egyptian mummies and tomb artefacts and Aboriginal stories. Aptly named the ‘200 Treasures’ exhibit, this section is definitely a crowd pleaser, especially for indecisive groups!
On the 1st floor, we also see the Minerals Gallery. Here, you can marvel at the stunning rocks and minerals from around the world. It was incredible to see the range of specimens and many of the descriptions included details of how and where they were found, how fragile or strong they are and what they are used for. Here, we also discovered minerals native to Australia. I also managed to find some that I had seen in Bristol Museum!
On the 2nd floor, we explored the Surviving Australia exhibit, the Dinosaur Gallery and the Burra learning space (more on these later). These sections were particularly popular with families. There was also a café on this floor.
Overall, the layout of the museum allowed easy transition between the sections. There were ramps to connect the rooms, which allowed access by wheelchairs and prams.
Key exhibits
Some key exhibitions that I found particularly interesting were on the 2nd floor. First, Surviving Australia, an exhibit on various creatures in Australia. What I found interesting was that it was essentially myth busting. I found out that many of the Australian creepy crawlies I was scared of were actually harmless and incredibly rare! There was also a display on megafauna, the large animals that lived during the Pleistocene period. The museum contains some fossils and even skeletal remains of these creatures.
Another important section was the Burra learning space. This was a space for children to explore First Nations values and knowledge. Sensory interaction was a key part, where kids could listen to Aboriginal people explain the importance of Country and interacting with creatures. Learn about what Country is here.
The dinosaur exhibit was, for me, the most exciting. As you can see in the image on the left, there were plenty of dinosaur skeletons to explore. At the back of the room, there was an exhibit on modern research into the biology of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. This also included researchers attempting surgery on a scale model!
Archaeology in Australia
I have been able to explore the similarities and differences in archaeology in both Britian and Australia (specifically Sydney) through my studies in university and through networking events. One key aspect of archaeology in Australia is the consideration for Indigenous culture. Aboriginal traditions and knowledge of the land are incredibly important and should be honoured respectfully and with understanding. I was able to attend a few networking events where I could speak to industry professionals. Here, I understood the importance of heritage conservation. This has growing importance as some legislation is being passed with less consideration for preserving. Alongside this, my class studies have helped me to understand the impacts of archaeological projects on the environment and how this affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Sydney is a growing city and archaeology is a key part of construction, in new buildings and apartments, for example. Heritage consultants will be called to assess the sites, so they should be able to identify the traditions of the Aboriginal communities, include them in decision making and assess the impact of the project on Aboriginal land. This does slightly contrast to archaeology in northern Queensland, which is less urban orientated and more focused on prehistoric archaeology. In the events I attended, the heritage professionals explained that the inclusion of Aboriginal voices are important to ensure minimal impact and hopefully no destruction to historic sites. Some of the projects they have worked on include the excavations at Central Station, the Parramatta Light Rail route and other construction projects around the city.
Whilst some of these skills are not directly transferrable to British archaeology, they are translatable. Collaboration with communities and understanding the importance of personal traditions are key to effective projects. British archaeology seems to be more academic and based in material culture. This is not a bad thing, but perhaps we can incorporate some community-based work in terms of more outreach and education projects. In addition to this, we can also place more importance in oral histories. These can help us understand the personal levels to the rich history around us.
Conclusion
Overall, I have found my experience as a student abroad to be incredibly useful in understanding archaeology in a new context. To add to this, I have been able to engage with heritage professionals of companies such as GML Heritage, Extent Heritage and Regal Heritage, which has allowed me to understand the industry in Australia. The Australian Museum has been a key part being able to explore Aboriginal artefacts, as well as the traditions and values behind them. This has deepened my awareness of cultural diversity in Sydney.
Whether you are a tourist, dinosaur fanatic or simply curious about the history of the city, I would highly recommend the Australian Museum as a must-visit spot for all ages!
Resources
Australian Museum (n.d.) Australian Museum, website: https://australian.museum/
Extent Heritage (n.d.) Extent Heritage, website: https://www.extentheritage.com.au/
GML Heritage (n.d.) GML Heritage, website: https://www.gml.com.au/news/video-archaeology-at-parramatta-light-rail/
Regal Heritage (n.d.) Regal Heritage, website: https://www.regalheritage.com.au/
Author: Divya Rajesh (2nd Year Arch&Anth student on Semester Abroad)