I love visiting museums. I love walking among the collections that tell stories of years gone past and marvel at them. So naturally Darwin’s Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) got included in my itinerary.
MAGNT houses artistic, local historical, cultural and scientific collection of the Northern Territory. The two-storey museum is in a scenic location overlooking the Arafura Sea. Opened in September 1981, this new building replaced the earlier museum at Old Town Hall destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
The ground floor houses 3 main exhibition galleries, museum shop, a small discovery center with drop-in activities for kids and Saltwater cafe.
On ground floor, ‘Between the Moon and the Stars’ is an exhibition that brings together key artworks, natural science specimens and historical artifacts in exploration of our relationship with the Moon and stars in our galaxy. To mark the 50th year since Man first walked on the Moon, this unique exhibition showcases collection from within the museum and on loan from artists, institutions and private individuals.
The Gallery ‘Transformation’ is about Northern Territory fauna and how geological history and climate of Northern Australia affects the evolution of its animals and plants.
‘Cyclone Tracy’ is a gallery dedicated to the people of Darwin for their strength and fortitude in the re-building efforts after the city’s total destruction by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Eve of 1974.
The gallery is divided into 2 parts; one featuring art and artifacts associated with Tracy and the other explores the architectural history of Darwin from the years before WWII to Self-Government in 1978. The latter section featured a ‘sound room’ where we could hear Tracy on the fateful day around Darwin as recorded by Bishop Collins. We stood together with others in the small, dimly-lit room listening to the howling roar of Tracy, imagining the horror of being caught up in the storm.
Exhibit depicting damages caused by Cyclone Tracy:
‘Smoking Pipes – A history in collecting’ showcases over 100 smoking pipes MAGNT has in its collection. Featured collection includes Macassan-style pipes that are evidence of early contact between Macassan trepangers from Indonesia and Aboriginal communities long before the arrival of the British. The variance in styles of pipes speaks of the significance of the Northern Territory’s long-standing relationship with maritime Southeast Asia and beyond.
‘Unruly Days: Territory Life’ Gallery on 2nd storey traces Northern Territory life during the first decade under Commonwealth rule. The gallery features equipment and items used in production and daily lives.
The museum’s Colin Jack-Hinton Maritime Collection is housed in a sheltered but non air-conditioned space. A number of water-crafts are displayed and can be viewed both from the ground or from an elevated platform. The water-crafts range from single person canoes to fishing transport boats to larger sized sail boats.
Sat down for a short break at Saltwater Cafe. Food, drinks and cakes are sold here. Check out the menu from the cafe’s website. A regular cup of cup is reasonably priced at A$4.50. We did not eat anything but we observed that the serving of food was quite generous.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) may not have a very extensive collection but still worth a visit if you can spare the time. Best of all, admission is free. Open everyday from 10am to 5pm, the Museum is closed only on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Getting there on a weekend or public holiday is easy. Bus service no 4 from Darwin to Casuarina will make a stop in front of the museum. Do check bus service information for timetable.
*****************************************
Read about my trip itinerary and the places visited in A Weekend In Darwin .
*****************************************
