Opened in March 2001, the National Museum is the first in the country devoted to the stories of Australia and Australians, exploring the key issues, events and people that have shaped and influenced our nation. The National Museum was designed by Ashton Raggatt McDougall and Robert Peck von Hartel Trethowan. It won the Blueprint Architecture Award for the world's Best New Public Building in 2001. The building reflects the many intertwined stories that make up Australia's history.
The colourful building itself is an architectural landmark, one which complements the beautiful surroundings of Canberra's Acton Peninsula. The jigsaw-like building wraps around the central Garden of Australian Dreams, that is both a garden and cultural display. Bringing together the diverse stories of Australia, the exhibitions cover 50,000 years of indigenous heritage, settlement since 1788 and major events including Federation and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The collection has everything from a carcass of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger to Australia's largest collection of bark paintings, Phar Lap's heart and Australian icons such as the Hills Hoist, Victa Mower and the No.1 Holden Prototype car. You can also learn about the history and mystery of well known Australians such as the disappearance of former Prime Minister, Harold Holt. The National Museum also develops regular temporary and travelling exhibitions on topics ranging from gold, space exploration and cartooning to outlaw legends, rare trades and deserts.
