The National Museum of Australia's curators are passionate about objects and their stories and these are at the heart of their work. Curators work with collectors, communities, artists and makers to build a collection that represents the richness and diversity of Australian history and culture.
Curators work with teams across the Museum to bring the collection to life, developing exhibitions, digital projects, publications, seminars and events.
Research at the Museum is centred around the National Historical Collection. The Museum also supports honorary research fellows and associates, works with external partners and participates in Australian Research Council projects.
Explore collection and curatorial
Explore the moments and objects that help define the Australian nation.
Beloved children’s television character Mr Squiggle is the star of 800-plus objects acquired from Norman Hetherington’s extensive archive.
Our National Historical Collection of 250,000 objects represents Australia’s history and cultural heritage.
Senior research fellowships
The Museum received generous donations from partners to support the:
- White Family Senior Fellow in Australian Garden History
- James O Fairfax Senior Fellow in Culture and Environment
- Swayn Centre for Australian Design
Honorary research fellows
- Eric Archer
- Prof Kylie Message-Jones, Australian National University
- Margo Ngawa Neale
Honorary research associates
- Rhonda Ayliffe
- Carol Cooper
- Dr Marie Geissler, University of Wollongong
- Meredith Hinchliffe
- David Kaus
- Assoc Prof Julie McIntyre, University of Newcastle
- Pip McNaught
Australian Research Council projects
- Conviction Politics (Monash University)
- Entangled Knowledges in the Robert Neill collection (Deakin University)
- The Australian Emulation Network Phase 2 – Extending the Reach
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Banner image: openwork bracelet with Australian flora and birds, about 1858, Hogarth, Erichsen and Co, Sydney, gold, 3 x 25 x 1.3 cm. Donated by Trevor Kennedy through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program. Each panel depicts an Australian motif (from left), waratah, flannel flower, lyrebird, banksia, emu, fern and native pear. National Museum of Australia