Author: qldmuseum

5 minutes with, Guest Posts

5 minutes with Dr Brit Asmussen

Spend five minutes with Dr Brit Asmussen, Acting Principal Curator, Cultures and Histories as she chats about her work as a research scientists and her favourite items in the Queensland Museum Collection. What is your favourite object in the collection and why? I currently work across several collections (Indigenous Cultures, Archaeology, Antiquities, World Cultures), and I find the more I work with the really wide … Continue reading 5 minutes with Dr Brit Asmussen

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Collection, Queensland Stories

90 Years of Gardams – The History of the Queensland family business

How It All Began Gardams Fabric Store has been part of a long-held tradition of dressing brides in Queensland for 90 years. The family business was started by Bert Gardam who arrived in Queensland as a ward of the state in 1921. At just 16 years of age and with only 10 shillings in his pocket, Bert obtained work on a sheep station and began … Continue reading 90 Years of Gardams – The History of the Queensland family business

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Collection, Marine Environments

Relocating a Supersized Squid, Tentacles And All!

One of Queensland Museum’s resident tenants took the stress of moving to a whole new level, as the giant squid found his tentacles being transported to a new abode. Past Life Before calling Queensland Museum home, the supersized ocean dweller was discovered lurking in the deep ocean off New Zealand, measuring a staggering 6.75 metres. The life of the preserved Architeuthis dux has spanned vast … Continue reading Relocating a Supersized Squid, Tentacles And All!

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Cobb+Co Museum, Museum Revealed Podcast

Museum Revealed Podcast [Ep 9]: Cobb+Co Museum History with Jeff Powell

This week on the Museum Revealed podcast we’re rolling back to the days of horse drawn carriages with Cobb+Co Museum’s curator Jeff Powell. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Let’s meet our guest: Jeff Powell Jeff Powell is the curator at Cobb+Co Branch, Queensland Museum in Toowoomba, where he has clocked up more than 30 years.  Cobb+Co Museum is home to a collection of around 50 … Continue reading Museum Revealed Podcast [Ep 9]: Cobb+Co Museum History with Jeff Powell

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Collection, Queensland Museum, Queensland Stories, Research, The Workshops Rail Museum, War

What didn’t make it into “Duty, Debt and Picket Lines: the Queensland Railway Department during the First World War”

While researching for my paper Duty, Debt and Picket Lines: the Queensland Railway Department during the First World War for the Queensland Museum Memoir volume 11, I found a large amount of material that, due to space constraints, I was unable to include. Therefore, I thought writing a blog might be a good opportunity to publish these unused images and documents. The paper investigates the … Continue reading What didn’t make it into “Duty, Debt and Picket Lines: the Queensland Railway Department during the First World War”

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Cobb+Co Museum, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum, The Workshops Rail Museum, Uncategorized

7 things to do these school holidays

1. Scales & Tales Reptile Workshop Come and join herpetologist and wildlife photographer Steve Wilson at the museum in a small group workshop experience like no other, exploring the amazing diversity and incredible adaptations of reptiles. Experience first-hand how the Museum scientists identify different species. Sessions available from $35 per participant on Thursday 24, Friday 25, Monday 28 & Tuesday 29 September Learn More 2. … Continue reading 7 things to do these school holidays

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Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Collection

Queensland Australian South Sea Islanders embrace 20th Anniversary

Collections: Australian South Sea Islander Kastom Collection Imelda Miller, Curator – Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Indigenous Studies, Queensland Museum Network Australian South Sea Islander history and heritage is an important part of Queensland history.  This year, 2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Queensland Government’s official recognition of Australian South Sea Islanders’ continuing contributions to Queensland. 20 years ago today Early in my … Continue reading Queensland Australian South Sea Islanders embrace 20th Anniversary

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Cobb+Co Museum, Collection, Queensland Museum, Queensland Stories, The Workshops Rail Museum, Uncategorized, War

Remembering Queensland Mobilised

The mobilisation of the people of Australia and their possessions means that the country will be turned into one vast war machine. Every person whether civilian or soldier will be a cog in that machine… Women and children according to their individual capabilities, have a place in the wartime economy… ‘Mobilisation’, Queensland Times Ipswich, 14 March 1942. A pair of pilot’s goggles sit quietly on … Continue reading Remembering Queensland Mobilised

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Collection, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Pacific Indigenous Cultures

Still more important than anything money can buy

This blog post is part of an ongoing series titled Connecting with Collections. The series offers readers a peek inside the collections at Museum of Tropical Queensland, highlighting objects and their stories. “I am giving you this gift – not to buy a bride – but to remember the Purpuruk Family and our beautiful Country.” Between 1980 and 1984, Jenny Sebba and Arnold Young lived … Continue reading Still more important than anything money can buy

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Queensland Museum

6 Ways to celebrate National Science Week

National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals – from students, to scientists to chefs and musicians. This year’s program takes form virtually and we have curated a list of different ways you can celebrate science all week long from the comfort of your own home! Future Earth Join dynamic and interactive webinars, podcasts and competitions to explore how … Continue reading 6 Ways to celebrate National Science Week

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Queensland Museum Shop

Find the perfect Father’s Day gift

Looking for something special to gift Dad this Father’s Day? Browse our extensive range of curated gifts that are perfect for all Dads and Grandads. Visit our Queensland Museum shop at South Bank or order online by 27 August to ensure delivery before Father’s Day. Shop online today. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane 3rd Edition Twenty-five years after it was first published, this third edition of … Continue reading Find the perfect Father’s Day gift

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Biodiversity, Collection Management, Museum of Tropical Queensland

It’s a whale of a tale

In 1982, a dwarf minke whale was discovered swimming in a small ocean lagoon on Hook Reef in the Whitsundays. At the time, the story of the whale made headlines and recently as Collections Manager at Museum of Tropical Queensland, I provided a recount of the whale’s story. If you missed The Saga of the Minke Whale on Hook Reef you can watch it on … Continue reading It’s a whale of a tale

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Cobb+Co Museum

The Brisbane Sulky

Italy has Ferraris, Germany the Porsche, England Aston Martins. Long before these marques hit the road, the sunshine state had the ‘Brisbane’, or maybe ‘Queensland’ sulky. These single ‘horsepower’ vehicles were so popular and commonplace north of the border Queenslanders didn’t realise they were a distinctive local style, rarely seen in southern cities. Indeed the name ‘Brisbane sulky’ was what they were called interstate. Sulkies … Continue reading The Brisbane Sulky

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The Workshops Rail Museum

Farewell to the QT – Flashback to The Queens Park Locomotive

While doing some research in our archive last year, I came across a scrapbook of old press clippings from the QT containing articles that ranged from the 1950s to the late 1960s. The railway department had collected any articles that it was mentioned in, whether positive or negative.  Everything was in this scrapbook: news about strikes, accidents, recognition of talented staff, wage increases but what … Continue reading Farewell to the QT – Flashback to The Queens Park Locomotive

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Cobb+Co Museum, Collection, Queensland Stories, The Workshops Rail Museum

Henry Lawson’s other skill

Henry Lawson remains one of Australia’s best known poets and authors a century after his death. Poems such as ‘The Lights of Cobb & Co’, ‘The Teams’ and ‘Andy’s Gone with Cattle’, and short stories like ‘Joe Wilson and his Mates’ flowed from his pen. His face has adorned banknotes and stamps. Henry Lawson’s life was glorious and tragic in equal measure. At once blessed … Continue reading Henry Lawson’s other skill

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Education, Guest Posts

To the teachers, thank you

As of Monday 25 May 2020, all Queensland school students are set to go back to school, after many being at home doing school virtually for some time. The importance of teachers and their pivotal role in our youth’s lives cannot be overlooked. During this unique and unprecedented time, teachers have been responsive and supportive in transitioning whilst helping students and parents alike. With this, … Continue reading To the teachers, thank you

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Education, SparkLab, Sciencentre

Searching for Surprise Rainbows with SparkLab

Kate, SparkLab Learning Officer, South Bank Discover rainbows around your home and explore the science of light and colour. Have you ever noticed a rainbow somewhere that you didn’t expect one? SparkLab Learning Officers have been discovering surprise rainbows all over their homes. This got us thinking… Where do rainbows come from? And how can we create our own rainbows at home? Search for your … Continue reading Searching for Surprise Rainbows with SparkLab

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