Audio on demand

Photographer Peter Eve reflects on an expedition into the remote southern Simpson Desert that he shared with archaeologist Dr Mike Smith. Peter praises Mike’s ability to bring the buried landscapes and humanities of deep time to life.

An introduction to the work of pioneering desert archaeologist Dr Mike Smith by Andrew Sayers, Director of the National Museum of Australia, followed by a reading by Mark O’Connor of his poem ‘Desert Archaeology’.

Peter Stanley chairs an open mike session as a tribute to Mike Smith. Short contributions were made from Calogero Santoro, a colleague from Chile, other colleagues and students who have worked with Mike, with the day finishing with comments by Mike Smith.

A tribute to pioneering desert archaeologist Dr Mike Smith. Speakers June Ross, John Mulvaney, Barry Cundy, Giles Hamm and Chris Turney reflect on their time teaching and working with Mike, and the developing field of desert archaeology in Australia.

An overview of the work required bring a rich collection of hundreds of objects from a family museum at an historic grazing property into the National Historical Collection.

Our Museum conservators outline principles to help you care for your own items such as photo albums and wedding dresses. These principles include stable, suitable environmental conditions, good handling practices and correct physical storage for items.

Following a welcome to country, Alisa Duff outlines why Warakurna was so unique as a community and how the paintings and sculptures are not just art, they recreate scenes of everyday life and to tell historical and contemporary stories.

Listen to members of the Conservation team here at the National Museum give a practical demonstration on how to care to the special medals, trophies and silverware that you have at home.

Listen to members of the National Museum Registration team discuss the documentation, photography, uplift and transport that was needed to make the Saw Doctor’s wagon, now on display in the Main Hall, a part of the Museum’s collection.

This event launched two new exhibitions: the display of big objects from the Museum’s collection in the Hall and Museum Workshop which showcases the work of three of the Museum’s conservation teams.