Exhibitions & Events, Museum of Tropical Queensland

Top 5 things to see at Brickman Cities: Build the Future at Queensland Museum Tropics

No need to hop on a plane or find your passport! You can now see five iconic cities at Queensland Museum Tropics, Townsville made entirely of LEGO® bricks in Brickman Cities. We’ve pulled together a list of the top five things not to miss on your next visit! 1. Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo The Shibuya Crossing is known to be the busiest crossing in the world. … Continue reading Top 5 things to see at Brickman Cities: Build the Future at Queensland Museum Tropics

qldmuseum15 April, 202415 April, 2024Leave a comment

Conservation, Marine Environments, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum

Careers in Coral Reef Science

Written by Dr Peter Cowman, Principal Scientist and Curator, Biosystematics “I always wanted to be a marine biologist!” is the refrain I get when I tell people I am one. But like most career paths, there is more to it than people think. ‘Marine biologist’ sounds like a career that involves visiting exotic places, scuba-diving every day and seeing amazing underwater animals. But marine biology … Continue reading Careers in Coral Reef Science

qldmuseum4 May, 20235 May, 2023

Marine Environments, Museum of Tropical Queensland, News

Spawning the new coral emoji

Love 😍 them or hate 😡 them – emoji are a universal picture language understood by all. They just magically appeared on our devices one day, right? In fact, the first emoji were designed in 1999 but that’s a whole other (very interesting) story. As more and more emoji inserted themselves into daily life, people began to lament – why don’t they have a ‘#insertwhateveremojiyouwishforhere? … Continue reading Spawning the new coral emoji

qldmuseum28 April, 202229 April, 2022

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Collection, Exhibitions & Events, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Research

Curating ‘Connections across the Coral Sea’

Connections across the Coral Sea reveals the latest archaeological research around the earliest movements and trade between the seafaring cultures of Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait and the northeast coast of Queensland. Every new exhibition gives us an opportunity to reassess how we curate and develop displays. How can objects be used to tell a story? More importantly, whose story, and which story are we … Continue reading Curating ‘Connections across the Coral Sea’

qldmuseum10 February, 20226 September, 2022

Biodiversity, Collection, Marine Environments, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Research

Trolley of Death

I have yet to meet anyone that isn’t fascinated by venomous creatures and their potential to… well, kill you. Australia is full of them and some are not always what you would expect! Working at the museum means I have access to a whole host of natural history objects. Recently I had to do a photoshoot featuring some of the venomous animals I work on. … Continue reading Trolley of Death

qldmuseum16 September, 202118 September, 2021

Archaeology, Education, Museum of Tropical Queensland

Ancient science in contemporary times

Ancient Rome has had a lasting impact on the world, particularly on Western cultures. You may be surprised to hear that many of the objects, concepts, technologies and machines from Ancient Rome are still part of our contemporary lives. Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World exhibition includes working reconstructions of ancient machines and other technical innovations using materials of the era – wood, … Continue reading Ancient science in contemporary times

qldmuseum8 September, 202110 September, 2021

Conservation, Maritime Archaeology, Maritime History, Museum of Tropical Queensland

Small things sometimes mean a whole lot

In honor of the 230th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Pandora, Dr Maddy McAllister, Senior Curator of Maritime Archaeology has selected three objects rarely seen from the extensive collection held at Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville. _______________________________________________ HMS Pandora was the British Royal Navy warship dispatched to the South Pacific in pursuit of the infamous Bounty mutineers. On its return journey, approximately 140km east of Cape York, … Continue reading Small things sometimes mean a whole lot

qldmuseum25 August, 202126 August, 2021

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Museum of Tropical Queensland

Connections to the land and sea

In 2021, Museum of Tropical Queensland commissioned an artwork from local Townsville Indigenous artist, Jumbo Prior. Jumbo Prior is a Bwgcolman, Birri-Gubba and Mamu man. Jumbo was born on Palm Island and grew up in Cherbourg. A self-taught artist, Jumbo has been painting for around eight years. He recently designed the Toyota Cowboys 2021 NRL Indigenous Jersey, with his work, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander … Continue reading Connections to the land and sea

qldmuseum11 June, 2021

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Collection, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Stories

Women’s History Month

This blog post is part of an ongoing series titled Connecting with Collections. There are so many ways to celebrate and honour incredible women around the world. In the museum, we’re always looking for opportunities to bring out objects and tell their stories – and this month, it’s time to feature some of the iconic items held at Museum of Tropical Queensland, that were made, … Continue reading Women’s History Month

qldmuseum11 March, 202126 March, 2021

5 minutes with, Biodiversity, Marine Environments, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Research

5 minutes with Sue-Ann Watson, Senior Curator Marine Invertebrates

Sue-Ann is Senior Curator, Marine Invertebrates at the Queensland Museum Network, based at the Museum of Tropical Queensland campus in Townsville. Her position is co-appointed with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. What is your favourite specimen in the collection and why? At Museum of Tropical Queensland we have a very large giant clam shell. This … Continue reading 5 minutes with Sue-Ann Watson, Senior Curator Marine Invertebrates

qldmuseum22 February, 20215 March, 2021

Maritime Archaeology, Maritime History, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum

SS Gothenburg – A haunting watery grave

The 60m long steam ship Gothenburg was built in Essex (UK) in 1854. In 1862, Gothenburg began operation in an Australian-New Zealand run as a passenger steamer and later travelled the route from Port Darwin to Melbourne with a crew of 37 and 98 passengers including some prestigious members of society. Much like the infamous Titanic, Gothenburg’s last trip focused on making the best possible … Continue reading SS Gothenburg – A haunting watery grave

qldmuseum13 January, 20215 March, 2021

5 minutes with, Museum of Tropical Queensland

5 minutes with Dr Tom Bridge

Take a deep dive virtually into the Great Barrier Reef this week as Dr Tom Bridge, Senior Curator of Corals spends 5 minutes chatting about his favourite parts of the collection and his research. What is your favourite species in the collection and why? Since I started at Museum of Tropical Queensland we have collected a number of new species. They are not yet registered … Continue reading 5 minutes with Dr Tom Bridge

qldmuseum20 October, 2020

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

qldmuseum17 September, 202018 September, 2020

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

qldmuseum10 August, 2020

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

qldmuseum3 August, 2020

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

CHANGING COMMUNITIES. CHANGING LIVES.

For decades across the Queensland Museum Network, hundreds of volunteers have generously given their time and knowledge to ensure visitors to our museums enjoy an experience to remember. This year for National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the theme, “Changing Communities. Changing Lives”. We know our volunteers do exactly that, with visitors often speaking of the lasting impression left after an encounter or tour with a … Continue reading CHANGING COMMUNITIES. CHANGING LIVES.

qldmuseum20 May, 202026 May, 2020

Collection, Collection Management, Museum of Tropical Queensland, News, Queensland Stories

Contemporary collecting: Recording history as it happens

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. What springs to mind when you think of museums? How about words like old, ancient, artefact or taxidermy? That’s not surprising. Museums have a long history of collecting and displaying ‘curiosities’ just like … Continue reading Contemporary collecting: Recording history as it happens

qldmuseum30 April, 20202 July, 2020

Marine Environments, Museum of Tropical Queensland

A step in the right direction for Magnetic Island’s giant clams

This is the third installment of a blog monitoring a bleaching event currently occurring in reefs off Magnetic Island, 14kms from the coast of Townsville in North Queensland. Since February 2020, a team of local marine biologists have been monitoring 14 giant clams along the snorkel trails of Geoffrey Bay which were showing signs of severe bleaching. The team returned again in March and observed … Continue reading A step in the right direction for Magnetic Island’s giant clams

qldmuseum27 April, 2020