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Page 2 of 12 — Latest articles

Thu, January 3, 2013
by Campbell Rhodes

Art Is A Weapon—now open!

The exhibition shows off a wonderful portfolio of linocuts created by the Melbourne Popular Art Group in 1954, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade.

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Art is a Weapon: exhibition detail.
Thu, January 3, 2013
by Kate Armstrong

Marching through the paint layers of history—revealing the hidden secrets of Provisional Parliament House (Part 1)

We are currently undertaking a refurbishment of the Members’ Dining Room so that the space meets the requirements of a contemporary function venue, yet protects, reveals and communicates the rare and significant historical features.

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The Members’ Dining Room is currently used for seminars, conferences, weddings and special events. Image courtesy of Gillian Mitchell, Conservation Works Pty Ltd.
Mon, December 17, 2012
by Steven Fox

Merry Christmas from the Museum of Australian Democracy

2012 has been a big year for the Museum of Australian Democracy.

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The building lit pink by Sam Ilić
Wed, December 12, 2012
by Campbell Rhodes

A fascist sex symbol?

The museum has just acquired this photograph and unique letter from a dealer which digs deeper into one of the more famous stories in Australian history.

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Francis De Groot rides up on a horse, dressed in full military uniform and declares the bridge open.
Thu, November 29, 2012
by Dr Barry York

Celebrating the 300th oral history recording

Our 300th oral history recording made quite an impact thanks to a promotional competition organised with 666 ABC Canberra to select the 300th interviewee. The winner was Quentin O’Keefe who had worked in the Provisional Parliament House as a casual bar attendant in 1974.

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Recording equipment at the museum.
Wed, November 28, 2012
by Steven Murkett

I am an enemy of the state…

So proclaims the slogan on one of the myriad political badges collected during the course of the museum’s Great Badge Swap. The program, launched in June 2011, is an opportunity for you to contribute to the museum’s permanent collection by donating a badge that you have worn to express solidarity, dissent, celebration, hope or humour and to share your personal experiences of wearing the badge and what it signified to you. Your response has been wonderful…and democratic.

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This badge was worn to assert an individual’s right to freedom of expression in a democratic society. Museum of Australian Democracy Collection. Donated by William McInnes
Fri, November 23, 2012

Learn why democracy is not a spectator sport

From 26 November until 2 December the museum will be hosting a special History Channel film preview—a new documentary, “The People Speak”, which has the intriguing tagline “Democracy is not a spectator sport”.

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From 26 November until 2 December the museum will be hosting a special History Channel film preview—a new documentary, “The People Speak”, which has the intriguing tagline “Democracy is not a spectator sport”.
Tue, November 20, 2012
by Campbell Rhodes

Art is a Weapon: Behind the scenes of a new exhibition

Having worked at Old Parliament House since 2006, before the Museum of Australian Democracy existed, I’ve often had a small role in assisting with exhibitions—mostly doing research for text panels or for objects on display. But the Art is a Weapon exhibition, due to open in December 2012, is the first one with which I’ve had this level of involvement.

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Peter Miller, Burn the Licenses!, linocut, part of the Eureka! series produced for the Communist Party of Australia in 1954 by the Melbourne Popular Art Group.
Wed, November 14, 2012
by David Jolliffe

Kevin Rudd’s riding boots

Currently on display in the museum’s Prime Ministers of Australia exhibition is former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s boots. The black leather RM Williams riding boots were worn by Kevin Rudd when he tabled a motion in the Commonwealth Parliament on 13 February 2008 apologising to the Stolen Generations for the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families.

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Kevin Rudd’s RM Williams riding boots. Museum of Australian Democracy Collection
Wed, November 7, 2012
by Michael Evans

The Forgotten History of 11 November 1975

Each year the Museum of Australian Democracy marks the anniversary of the events that surrounded the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government in 1975. This year we will focus our commemoration on one place, on one day.

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Gough Whitlam: His Time by Jenny Hocking
Mon, November 5, 2012
by Campbell Rhodes

Archie Cameron’s war on Phar Lap

The twelfth Speaker of the House of Representatives, Archie Galbraith Cameron, is renowned for his colourful personality and autocratic, abrasive style of managing the affairs of the House. One of Cameron’s more famous obsessions was his strong anti-gambling position.

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Phar Lap poster, Museum of Australian Democracy collection
Mon, October 29, 2012
by Kate Armstrong

Large, small, different

The first thing I wrote in my notebook when I attended the recent Museums Australia Conference in Adelaide was ‘I feel large, small, different’. Was this going to be an Alice in Wonderland experience? From the opening ceremony to the closing plenary the conference encouraged me to reflect on this museum and its place in the museum world.

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Illustration by John Tenniel
Thu, October 25, 2012
by Dr Barry York

Our 300th recording! Introducing Mrs Quentin O’Keefe

In September, the museum, in association with 666 ABC Canberra, hosted a competition to find our 300th oral history recording. Fantastic submissions were received from individuals who had worked in the building when it was home to the federal parliament however there can only be one winner.

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Quentin O’Keefe
Wed, October 17, 2012
by Steven Murkett

Riding towards constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians

The museum recently acquired two significant objects for its permanent collection which provide an opportunity to explore the road to reconciliation for Australia’s Indigenous people—a message stick and a kangaroo skin petition book.

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Kangaroo Skin Petition Book used during the Freedom Ride 2011. Created by Kylie Cassidy. Museum of Australian Democracy Collection.
Tue, October 9, 2012
by Libby Stewart

‘My Dear Little Daddy’

Recently the museum purchased a unique item. In 1936 former Prime Minister and still-serving Member of the House of Representatives William (Billy) Morris Hughes bought a copy of the book Caravan, by John Galsworthy, as a gift for his daughter Helen.

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‘Billy Hughes with daughter Helen Hughes at Sydney Cricket Ground’. WM Hughes, National Library of Australia, http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms1538-10-365
Wed, October 3, 2012
by Jose Walsh

Franklin River debate: 1983

The museum’s Schools Learning team have recently undertaken a significant refresh of one of our most popular onsite school programs—Franklin River Debate: 1983.

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Students interrogating protest material in the Franklin River Debate: 1983 program.
Sat, September 29, 2012
by Kate Armstrong

Happy 150th birthday to our dour but magnificent architect who did a ‘rush job’

This month we are celebrating the 150th birthday of John Smith Murdoch, the chief architect for the Commonwealth of Australia who designed Provisional Parliament House, the magnificent building that houses our museum.

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Born on 29 September 1862, John Smith Murdoch’s 150th birthday is being celebrated this year. Photographer unknown.
Thu, September 27, 2012

Museums Australia award for Marnti warajanga - a walk together

News just in from the Museums Australia conference in Adelaide, our Marnti warajanga – a walk together travelling exhibition has won the Museums and Galleries National Award for the level 3 category ($150,000 to $500,000) temporary exhibition.

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Michael Evans, Manager of our Visitor Experience and Content Development section, accepting the Museums Australia MAGNA award for Marnti warajanga - a walk together.
Wed, September 26, 2012
by Dr Barry York

Librarians and journalists

666 ABC Canberra Mornings presenter, Alex Sloan, and museum historian, Dr Barry York, are sharing stories from the museum’s oral history collection during September. The latest theme from the collection is ‘librarians and journalists’.

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Dr Barry York, Historian, Museum of Australian Democracy. Photographer: Stefan Postles.
Mon, September 24, 2012
by Dr Barry York

Bygone jobs

666 ABC Canberra Mornings presenter, Alex Sloan, and museum historian, Dr Barry York, are sharing stories from the museum’s oral history collection during September. The latest theme from the collection is ‘bygone jobs’.

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Dr Barry York, Historian, Museum of Australian Democracy. Photographer: Stefan Postles.
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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

PO Box 7088, Canberra BC ACT 2610

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Old Parliament House is an Executive Agency within the Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport portfolio.