Inside the Collection

Category: Collection stories

Kimberley Bezuidenhout at the entrance to the 'Interface: people, machines, design' exhibition

What’s this doing in a museum?

September 26, 2018

Kimberley Bezuidenhout
Week 11 as an intern at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. No sign of life in the objects. Starting to think that basing my expectations on ‘Night at the Museum’ was unrealistic. Although, I have only been here during the day, so I won’t write that off just yet.
Presenter Dr Graeme Phillips explains the finer points of time travel.

How to build a time machine

September 5, 2018

Sarah Reeves
Back in January, the Catalyst team from the ABC approached us about using some of the Museum's clocks in an upcoming episode of their show. They were producing an episode entitled ‘How To Build A Time Machine', which would delve into the nature of time, whether time travel could ever become a reality, and what rules you'd want to follow if you did indeed find yourself in possession of a working time machine.
Colour printed photographic postcard depicting a river scene in Cairo, Egypt, in the early years of the 20th century.

An ANZAC Postcard: From Cairo, on the banks of the Nile, 1915

April 25, 2018

Kathy Hackett
This colour printed photographic postcard shows a river scene in Cairo in the early years of the 20th century. It is one of 33 postcards sent from Frederick E Boddington and his brother George K Boddington during their years of service in World War I.
Detail of 'Round the World in the Lockheed Electra' envelope

Amelia Earhart’s last contact

November 29, 2017

Margaret Simpson
This ordinary looking stamped-addressed envelope in the Museum's collection features two signatures, one is of the famous American aviator, Amelia Earhart, and the other F. (Fred) J. Noonan, her navigator during their pioneering world flight in 1937.
Wall of bikes, Museums' Discovery Centre, Castle Hill

200th Anniversary of the Bicycle – Highlights from our Collection

October 18, 2017

Margaret Simpson
The year 2017 marks 200 years since the invention of the bicycle, a mode of transport that revolutionised personal travel. The Museum has an eclectic collection of bikes, some of which are currently exhibited in an impressive wall display at the Museums Discovery Centre at Castle Hill in north-western Sydney.
Glass negative, imperial plate, ‘School girl life saving demonstration'

Inspiration, Expiration and Methods of Release

September 21, 2017

Kathy Hackett
This elegantly choreographed image from the studio of Kerry & Co. shows young women from the Bronte Surf Life Saving Brigade modelling three methods of ‘release’ used in lifesaving c. 1908.
Ambrotype of John Pascoe, third officer on the ‘Dunbar’

Sydney’s most famous shipwreck – the ‘Dunbar’

August 21, 2017

Margaret Simpson
On 20 August 2017 it was the 160th anniversary of New South Wales' worst maritime disaster, the sinking of the 'Dunbar'. On a pitch-dark rainy night with a gale blowing a total of 121 passengers and crew of the sailing ship, 'Dunbar', lost their lives not long after midnight.
Wasp speaker box used by Radio Birdman

Radio Birdman: Deniz Tek – A Wasp man

July 19, 2017

Damian McDonald
When Deniz Tek, medical student, audiophile and guitarist met Rob Younger in the early 1970s amidst the satin flares and platform boots that then graced Sydney’s pub stages the two students could see and hear that energy, rebellion, intelligence and true social comment were sorely missing.
Photograph of Lucille Dupain

Hollywood Glamour

April 11, 2017

Kathy Hackett
This photograph by Max Dupain (22 Apr 1911 - 27 Jul 1992), signed and dated 1936, is from the archive of Madame Louise Lamoureux, who ran a Sydney fashion house specialising in embroidery and hand-beading.
Photograph of Carmen Dell'Orefice modelling Starry Halo

Carmen and Mr John

November 9, 2016

Kathy Hackett
Recently identified in the MAAS collection are twenty early career images of fashion icon Carmen Dell’Orefice modelling hats by celebrity milliner, Mr John of New York (1902-1993). Still modelling at 85, Ms Dell’Orefice is widely acknowledged for her elegance and interpretative skill.
Photograph negative, children's clothing fashion shoot Luna Park

A Sydney Icon: Fashion at Luna Park

October 5, 2016

Anne-Marie Van de Ven
  Whenever asked ‘when, where and what’ to visit in Sydney, we know the answer: the Opera House with her pure white sails lit in moonlight and of course, our iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge that sparkles beautifully every New Year’s Eve.