Inside the Collection

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Cuberider: Australia’s first payload to the ISS

February 7, 2018

Almost exactly a year ago, the Museum was approached by Sydney start-up Cuberider with an unusual offer. In December 2016 Cuberider had launched Australia’s first ever payload to the International Space Station (ISS) – a Raspberry Pi computer used to run science experiments designed by high school students around the country.

Image of the 1906 total lunar eclipse

January 31, 2018

On Wednesday 31 January, 2018, Australia and New Zealand will experience a total lunar eclipse. This occurs when the moon moves completely into the Earth’s shadow, blocking out the Sun’s light, and plunging the moon into darkness.
The Museum's International Auto Buggy, serial No. 1074D, Model D, engine No. 54, was made by International Harvester Company of America Incorp. in 1910. It accommodated four to six passengers on two, leather-upholstered and heavily-buttoned bench seats. MAAS collection B1135. Image: Sotha Bourn, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences.

The International Auto Buggy – a real “horseless carriage”

January 23, 2018

On Australia Day, 26 January 2018, the CARnivale classic day display will be held in Parramatta Park in Western Sydney. The car I’ve chosen from the Museum’s eclectic automobile collection to exhibit at the event is a 20 hp International Auto Buggy made in 1910.

Storing a collection of 500,000 objects

January 17, 2018

The MAAS collection contains an estimated 500 000 objects. These objects are routinely moved around the Museum as they are taken on and off display, undergo conservation work, are photographed for publications, or even loaned to other museums and institutions across Australia and internationally.

Life Cycles: Sustainable Materials Library

January 10, 2018

In 1907, while developing an alternative to shellac, a natural resin secreted from the East Asian lac bug and used to insulate electrical cables in the early 20th century, Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented the world’s first mouldable synthetic polymer, called Bakelite.

Viennese Nef c 1880

December 20, 2017

In preparation for the display of this intriguing copper-and-silver nef, one of the Museum’s late 19th century Viennese ornaments, our conservators located previously hidden maker’s marks which prompted renewed attention to the object’s origin, design and function.

Experimentations Upgrade

December 13, 2017

The Experimentations exhibition opened in 1988 and has proved popular with our younger visitors ever since. Aimed at children aged 5-12 years, their parents, teachers and carers, the exhibition is designed to be an informal learning space that inspires curiosity and questioning, and allows visitors to play and experiment with materials and processes.

Faith Fashion Fusion: Muslim Women’s Style in Australia

December 7, 2017

Project Manager Kate Ford and Curator Glynis Jones recently installed Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) travelling exhibition Faith Fashion Fusion: Muslim Women’s Style in Australia at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur.

Amelia Earhart’s last contact

November 29, 2017

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.

Behind the Scenes Interning

November 21, 2017

Chloe Appleby is a university student who has spent the last 4 months interning in the Curatorial department at MAAS. Below she reports on her experience and what parts of her internship she enjoyed the most.