Museum of Tropical Queensland
Encyclopedia
The Museum of Tropical Queensland (abbreviated MTQ) is a museum of natural history, archaeology
and history located in Townsville, Queensland
, Australia
. It is located in the same complex as the Reef HQ
Aquarium. MTQ is a member of the Queensland Museum
Campus Network.
In 1997, Carden Wallace was named Director of the museum . Its current building was constructed at a cost of 18 million Australian dollars, and was opened on 3 June 2000 by the then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie
.
In 2003, Sally Lewis was named Director of the museum. In 2007, Peter McLeod was named Director of the museum.
, one of the most significant wrecks in Australian waters. The Pandora sank off the coast of north Queensland in 1791 after capturing some of the participants in the infamous mutiny on the Bounty
.
The Maritime Archaeology Section administers the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
, which covers sites including HMS Pandora and SS Yongala
wrecks. Access to these sites is through permit only.
, the first species of dolphin
to be discovered in 56 years.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
and history located in Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located in the same complex as the Reef HQ
Reef HQ
Reef HQ is the largest living coral reef aquarium. It is located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The aquarium was built as a Bicentennial Commemorative project and is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority...
Aquarium. MTQ is a member of the Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum
The Queensland Museum is the state museum of Queensland. The museum currently operates four separate campuses; at South Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Townsville.The museum is funded by the State Government of Queensland.-History:...
Campus Network.
History
The museum opened in 1987 as the "North Queensland Branch" of the Queensland Museum, under the direction of 'Curator-in-Charge' Dr. Carden Wallace.In 1997, Carden Wallace was named Director of the museum . Its current building was constructed at a cost of 18 million Australian dollars, and was opened on 3 June 2000 by the then Queensland Premier Peter Beattie
Peter Beattie
Peter Douglas Beattie , Australian politician, was the 36th Premier of the Australian state of Queensland for nine years and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state for eleven and a half years...
.
In 2003, Sally Lewis was named Director of the museum. In 2007, Peter McLeod was named Director of the museum.
Research
Scientists in the museum have gained international recognition in various fields, particularly those with marine themes.Marine archaeology
The museum houses artefacts recovered from the wreck of HMS PandoraHMS Pandora (1779)
HMS Pandora was a 24-gun Porcupine-class sixth-rate post ship of the Royal Navy launched in May 1779. She is best known as the ship sent in 1790 to search for the Bounty and the mutineers who had taken her...
, one of the most significant wrecks in Australian waters. The Pandora sank off the coast of north Queensland in 1791 after capturing some of the participants in the infamous mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny that occurred aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the...
.
The Maritime Archaeology Section administers the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 is an Australian Act of Parliament designed to legally protect historic shipwrecks and any relics or artifacts from those wrecks...
, which covers sites including HMS Pandora and SS Yongala
SS Yongala
The passenger ship SS Yongala sank off Cape Bowling Green, Queensland, Australia on 23 March 1911. En route from Melbourne to Cairns she steamed into a cyclone and sank south of Townsville...
wrecks. Access to these sites is through permit only.
Marine megafauna
In 2006, worldwide attention was received for the discovery of the Australian Snubfin DolphinAustralian Snubfin Dolphin
The Australian snubfin dolphin is a dolphin found off the northern coasts of Australia. It closely resembles the Irrawaddy dolphin and was not described as a separate species until 2005. The Australian snubfin is tri-coloured, while the Irrawaddy dolphin only has two colours on its skin...
, the first species of dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
to be discovered in 56 years.