DianaMelbourne Mueseum
June 16th 2008 10:40
Link: museumvictoria.com.au/
While poor Mattie slaved away over her exam in the Royal Exhibition buildings I killed time by visiting the museum. Melbourne was glorying in her usual freezing cold weather and the sky was grey and bleak outside.
Inside was marginally warmer but much brighter to look at.
For a start, as soon as you get through the entrance area there is a fantastic skeleton of a blue whale, with a graphic video depicting how this was procured.
Also, there are these great 'poles' in the entrance hall containing quintessential Aussie things (Victorian even, maybe?) in groups, such as:
- samples of lamingtons, pavs, sponges
- stock saddles, whips, bush hats
- Fowler Vicola bottled fruit
- samples of fleeces, shearing clips and cutters.
T'was interesting.
The museum is divided into a number of different 'galleries'
- Melbourne Gallery (highlighting the Melbourne story)
- Science and Llife Gallery
- Bunjilaka Gallery (Aboriginal cultural story) :worth it just for the wonderful photos
-Pasifika Gallery
-children's gallery (good time-out spot with imaginative interactive play areas)
-Forest Gallery
Forest Gallery
My total favorite was the Forest gallery. Set in the middle of the museum, like an inner court-yard, this attempted to be a re-creation of a real-life rainforest.
There was even a tunnel where you could go down underneath and see the earth and sunken pools, fish, frogs and stuff.
Lovely on a hot day. I watched a satin bower-bird, tiny fire-tail finches and gorgeous vivid blue wrens.
It smelt so nice too.
Pharlap
Of course, no visit to the museum would be complete without a bit of worship of the wonderful Pharlap, Australia's favorite race horse.
Oh, and the 'Mind and Body' area was pretty good: graphic depictions of electric shock treatment, lobotomies and straght-jackets.
Beautiful.
Any questions?
T'was well worth a visit and great day for the kids. Plenty of 'em there too, specially in the shop where demands were being made thick and fast to stressed parents.
Advice: don't go down to the toy area under any circumstances!
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