South Australian Museum

The South Australian Museum situated on Adelaide's cultural boulevard, North Terrace

The Art Gallery of South Australia, and the eastern wing of the South Australian Museum, on North Terrace

The west wing of the South Australian Museum as viewed from its courtyard

The South Australian Museum is a museum in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1856.^[1] It occupies a complex of buildings on North Terrace in the cultural precinct of the Adelaide Parklands.

History

The South Australian Institute, incorporating a public library and a museum, was established in 1847^[2] in the rented premises of the Library and Mechanics' Institute in King William Street whilst waiting construction of the Institute building on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue.^[3] Frederick George Waterhouse offered his services as curator of the South Australian Institute Museum in June 1859 in an honorary capacity. When the Institute building was completed, the Board appointed him as the first curator, a position he held until his retirement in February 1882. He was succeeded by Wilhelm Haacke, who in January 1883 recommended the South Australian Institute Museum be renamed the South Australian Museum, and the position of Curator be changed to Director. Wilhelm was appointed the first of eleven Directors of the South Australian Institute Museum.^[4]

In 1939, Haacke’s recommendation was finally realised; legislation was passed that gave the South Australian Museum autonomy from the Art Gallery and Library, and the South Australian Institute Museum was officially renamed the South Australian Museum.^[4]

The Museum

The current Director, appointed in April 2007, is Professor Suzanne Miller.^[5]

The museum contains the largest collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artifacts in the world.^[4]

Permanent galleries include:

• Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery
• South Australian Biodiversity Gallery
• World Mammals Gallery
• Mawson Gallery
• Megafauna Gallery
• Minerals and Meteorites Gallery
• Fossils Gallery
• Pacific Cultures Gallery
• Ancient Egyptian Room

The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, the richest prize for natural history art in Australia and named for the museum's first curator, has been awarded annually since 2003. ^[6][7]

References and notes

1. ^ A Brief History, SA Museum website.
2. ^ South Australian Institute South Australian Advertiser 27 October 1863 p.4 accessed 5 March 2011
3. ^ The Institute building was officially opened on 29 January 1861 and is still in use as part of the State Library of South Australia.
4. ^ ^{a b c} A Potted History, South Australian Museum, 2004. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
5. ^ Our director, SA Museum website.
6. ^ Annual Report of the South Australian Museum Board, 2003-2004 Retrieved 10 August 2011.
7. ^ The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize Retrieved 10 August 2011.

External links

• South Australian Museum website

Coordinates: 34°55′15″S 138°36′11″E / 34.920783°S 138.603017°E / -34.920783; 138.603017