Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is the main museum in the Northern Territory
. The museum is located in the inner Darwin
suburb of Fannie Bay
. The museum falls under the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport.
to start a museum in Darwin
by making the Museums and Art Galleries Board of the Northern Territory.. The first director was appointed in 1970. The Old Town Hall in Smith Street
in Darwin's CBD was chosen as the Museum's first location. The museum contained Southeast Asian and Pacific culture, maritime history
, natural sciences, Indigenous culture and contemporary art.. Before Cyclone Tracy
in 1974 the Old Town Hall was almost complete from renovations. The cyclone caused major structural damage to the building and a portion of the art collections were damaged. The salvaged collections were put in rented space scattered around Darwin.
It was not until three years after Cyclone Tracy
that in 1977 the Commonwealth Government approved of a new museum at Bullocky Point in the suburb of Fannie Bay
. Construction commenced on the new museum in 1979 after the Northern Territory
was granted self-government, and funding for the new building was confirmed.
The building was opened on 10 September 1981 by the Governor General of Australia and was known as the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences. The museum featured the history, science and visual art of the region and its people. an extension was built and completed in 1992 to display the Northern Territory
's maritime history. In 1993 the name of the museum was changed to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
The Territory's art collection consists of over 30,000 items of art and material culture.. Famous exhibits include the body of Sweetheart
, a crocodile notorious for attacking boats.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. The museum is located in the inner Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
suburb of Fannie Bay
Fannie Bay, Northern Territory
Fannie Bay is a middle/inner suburb of the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.Situated in the suburb is the Fannie Bay Gaol museum, Fannie Bay Race Track and a monument to Ross Smith, captain of the Vickers Vimy that, in December 1919, was the first aircraft to fly from England to...
. The museum falls under the responsibility of the Northern Territory Government department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport.
History
In 1964 a Bill was introduced into the Northern Territory Legislative CouncilNorthern Territory Legislative Council
The Northern Territory Legislative Council was the partly elected governing body of the Northern Territory of Australia from 1947 until its replacement by the fully elected Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1974....
to start a museum in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
by making the Museums and Art Galleries Board of the Northern Territory.. The first director was appointed in 1970. The Old Town Hall in Smith Street
Smith Street
Smith Street is a road which may refer to*Smith Street Motorway, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia*Smith Street, Melbourne, Australia*Smith Street, Darwin, Australia*Smith Street, Singapore*Smith Street, Pennsylvania, United States of America...
in Darwin's CBD was chosen as the Museum's first location. The museum contained Southeast Asian and Pacific culture, maritime history
Maritime history
Maritime history is the study of human activity at sea. It covers a broad thematic element of history that often uses a global approach, although national and regional histories remain predominant...
, natural sciences, Indigenous culture and contemporary art.. Before Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
in 1974 the Old Town Hall was almost complete from renovations. The cyclone caused major structural damage to the building and a portion of the art collections were damaged. The salvaged collections were put in rented space scattered around Darwin.
It was not until three years after Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
that in 1977 the Commonwealth Government approved of a new museum at Bullocky Point in the suburb of Fannie Bay
Fannie Bay, Northern Territory
Fannie Bay is a middle/inner suburb of the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.Situated in the suburb is the Fannie Bay Gaol museum, Fannie Bay Race Track and a monument to Ross Smith, captain of the Vickers Vimy that, in December 1919, was the first aircraft to fly from England to...
. Construction commenced on the new museum in 1979 after the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
was granted self-government, and funding for the new building was confirmed.
The building was opened on 10 September 1981 by the Governor General of Australia and was known as the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences. The museum featured the history, science and visual art of the region and its people. an extension was built and completed in 1992 to display the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
's maritime history. In 1993 the name of the museum was changed to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
The Territory's art collection consists of over 30,000 items of art and material culture.. Famous exhibits include the body of Sweetheart
Sweetheart (crocodile)
Sweetheart was the name given to a 5.1 metre saltwater crocodile responsible for a series of attacks on boats in Australia between 1974 and 1979. Sweetheart attacked outboard motors, dinghies, and fishing boats...
, a crocodile notorious for attacking boats.