Australian Antarctic Division chief scientist Professor Nerilie Abram (left) and Antarctica co-curator Dr Laura Cook officially opened the Antarctica exhibition. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Most people have not, and probably never will, get the chance to travel to Antarctica but with the National Museum of Australia’s latest exhibition, you’ll be able to experience the next best thing.
Simply titled Antarctica, the National Museum of Australia’s (NMA) new exhibition features more than 250 pieces dating back centuries, all of which are from the National Antarctic Heritage Collection donated by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).
As a result of the AAD’s donation, the museum is now the custodian of one of the world’s premier Antarctic collections.
The exhibition officially opened on 1 July and will run through to 11 October, giving everyone the best chance to explore the frozen world.
Antarctica co-curator Dr Laura Cook said the exhibition took four years of planning.
“The idea of the exhibition began after discussions with the Australian Antarctic Division; they were looking for a safe home for their enormous and spectacular collection of material,” Dr Cook said.
“My colleague Dr Jono Lineen, I and a host of other conservators, registrars and other professionals all visited the ADS headquarters at Kingston, in Hobart.
“There was a real mixture of incredible treasures that previously had not been accessible to the public, so part of the conditions of the museum taking stewardship of this collection is that we would improve public access and this is the result of this exhibition.”
Huskies are still used to help scientists and travellers traverse the continent. Photos: Jarryd Rowley.
One of the most special pieces is a sled used during an early Australian expedition.
The Mole Mink was used in 1975 for large group travel.
Masks like these are used to combat the intense freezing temperatures.
Why not try out some of specialised outfits?
Dr Cook said it was difficult to only select 250 items for the exhibition, which ultimately included the heaviest item the museum has ever had to transport, an 8.5 tonne tractor used in 1960 to traverse the harsh conditions.
“We were starting with about 1000 objects, some of which, like a fabulous fossilised piece of tree timber, are millions of years old,” she said.
“Ultimately, what we were looking for was those really striking, moving personal stories because the National Museum is a social history museum and that’s kind of our approach to conveying this type of experience to our visitors.
“It was a learning journey for me too. I hadn’t realised just how closely integrated with Antarctica Australia is. We’re hoping that people who come into this exhibition really take on board just how vast and incredible Antarctica really is, as well as Australia’s history exploring it.”
AAD chief scientist Professor Nerilie Abram applauded the exhibition and its presentation.
Prof Abram said the exhibition brought together Australia’s Antarctic legacy of science and exploration, with the stories of those who had sacrificed time with their loved ones and faced the harshest conditions on the planet.
“What makes this exhibition so powerful is the way it brings together objects and personal accounts to illuminate the human effort behind Antarctic science,” Professor Abram said.
“These artefacts and stories provide a tangible connection to the people and processes that underpin Australia’s scientific work on the continent, helping visitors better understand how that work is conducted and why it matters.”
The Antarctica exhibition runs until 11 October and is open from 9 am until 5 pm. Entry is free but bookings are required. Visit the National Museum of Australia.
