• Free general admission
  • Open 9am-5pm daily, closed Christmas Day
  • Acton Peninsula, Canberra
  • 1800 026 132
exhibitions

Past exhibitions

A colour cartoon depicting Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott. They stand staring at each other. A red dotted line connects their gaze. Julia wears a white t-shirt and black trousers. On the t-shirt is 'Kevin 10' and 'Julia 10' underneath. The 'Kevin' in 'Kevin 10' has been crossed out. Abbott wears a white t-shirt and red swimmers. On his t-shirt is 'Brendan 10' and 'Malcolm 10'. In each case, the names have been crossed out. On his swimmers is 'Tony 10'. Above Gillard is text that reads 'Behind the Lines'. Above Abbott is text that reads 'The year's best cartoons 2010'.
> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2010 (Dec 10 -
Oct 11) celebrated the wit and artistry of our established and well-loved political cartoonists as well as recognising the talents and stylistic variety of a new generation.
Yalangbara: Art of the Djang'kawu. Pandanus Mat 2004 (detail), by Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory.
> Yalangbara (Dec 10 - Sep 11) featured captivating Aboriginal artworks by the Marika family from north-east Arnhem Land exploring the journey of the Djang'kawu ancestors.
Not just Ned: a true history of the Irish in Australia

> Not Just Ned (Mar - Jul 11) revealed the extraordinary influence of the Irish in Australia, from the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, to the continuing influx of young Irish backpackers today.

Dhari a Krar: Masks and Headdresses from the Torres Strait

> Dhari a Krar: Headdresses and Masks from the Torres Strait (Jul 06 - Jul 11) brought together a diverse collection of masks, headdresses and dance objects from the Torres Strait.

Exploration and Endeavour

> Exploration and Endeavour (Sep 10 - Feb 11) celebrated the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society and brought together unique treasures associated with voyages of scientific discovery to the South Seas.

Yiwwara Kuju: The Canning Stock Route

> Yiwarra Kuju: The Canning Stock Route (Jul 10 - Jan 11), told the story of the Canning Stock Route's impact on Aboriginal people, and the importance of the Country that surrounds it, through the works of senior and emerging artists and the stories of traditional custodians.

Detail from Honey Ant Hunt, 1975 by Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri.

> Papunya Painting: Out of the Australian Desert (Jun - Aug 10), shown at the National Art Museum of China, highlighted the National Museum of Australia's extraordinary collection of Western desert art.

Tayenebe: Tasmanian Aboriginal Women's Fibre Work

> tayenebe: Tasmanian Aboriginal women's fibre work (Mar - Jul 10). Tayenebe, a Tasmanian Aboriginal word meaning 'exchange', celebrated the revitalisation of Tasmanian Aboriginal weaving.

Water exhibition, 3 December 2009 to 16 May 2010

> Water: H20=Life (Dec 09 - May 10) analysed the natural and cultural sides of the fluid that underpins life on earth. It offered a global perspective on water and Australia's water story.

From Little Things Big Things Grow: Fighting for Indigenous Rights 1920-1970.

> From Little Things Big Things Grow (Sep 09 - Mar 10) traced the story of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists who fought for Indigenous civil rights in Australia from 1920 to 1970.

> Nation: Symbols of Australia (Mar 01 - Jan 10)
From the humble Hills hoist to the legend of ANZAC, Nation took a new approach to Australian history through Australian symbols.

Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2009

> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2009
(Dec 09 - Jan 10) celebrated the best Australian political cartoons and illustrations collected by the National Museum of Australia in 2009.

A Fine Yarn: Innovations in Australia's Wool Industry, 22 July to 8 November 2009. Free admission.

> A Fine Yarn: Innovations in Australia's Wool Industry
(Jul - Nov 09) examined the fine wool industry in Australia today, while recognising the importance of wool in its social and economic history.

Voyages of the Pacific Ancestors: Vaka Moana

> Voyages of the Pacific Ancestors: Vaka Moana (Jun - Oct 09) traced the dramatic story of one of the largest human migrations of all time across one third of the planet - the Pacific Ocean.

Recoil exhibition
> ReCoil: Change and exchange in coiled fibre art
(Nov 08 - Jun 09) explored the way the coiled basketry technique diversified, establishing new fibre movements in a range of remote Aboriginal communities.

    We came as workers, we stayed as citizens: Celebrating more than 40 years of Turkish migration to Australia.

> We came as workers, we stayed as citizens: Celebrating more than 40 years of Turkish migration to Australia (Mar - Apr 09)
This graphic exhibition highlighted the history and growth of Victoria's Turkish community.

Darwin

> Darwin (Dec 08 - Mar 09) detailed the life and work of Charles Darwin. The concurrent Darwin and Australia exhibition looked at Darwin's experiences during his short but important visit to Australia in early 1836.

Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2008

> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons 2008
(Dec 08 - Feb 09). An exhibition of the best cartoons and illustrations collected by the National Museum of Australia in 2008. View the collection online.

Selling an American Dream: Australia's Greek Café

> Selling an American Dream: Australia's Greek Café
(Jul - Nov 08). A photographic exhibition that explored the key role that Greek Australians played during the formative years of Australian culture.

Utopia: The Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye
> Utopia: The Genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye (Aug - Oct 08)
The exhibition tells the story of Emily Kame Kngwarreye as one of Australia's greatest contemporary artists.
A Different Time: The Expedition Photographs of Herbert Basedow 1903-1928
> A Different Time: The Expedition Photographs of Herbert Basedow 1903-1928 (Jul - Oct 08)
The exhibition draws on the National Museum of Australia's rich collection of Basedow's photographic work.
Ngurrara: The Great Sandy Desert Canvas exhibition
> Ngurrara: The Great Sandy Desert Canvas (Apr - Jun 08). Developed by the South Australian Museum, this exhibition centred on one of the largest and most spectacular Aboriginal Western Desert paintings: the great Ngurrara Canvas.
70% Urban

> 70% Urban (Mar 07 - Mar 08) drew on the Museum's collection to explore Indigenous culture in the city. Check out the 'Who you callin' urban?' video online or just read the transcript.

Hidden in Plain View exhibition
> Hidden in Plain View: The Forgotten Flora (Mar - Jun 08)
The exhibition highlighted the incredible diversity of form and colour of fungi, lichens, mosses and liverworts.
League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia
> League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia (Mar - May 08) celebrated the centenary of rugby league in 2008. Explore the exhibition online or see it in Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria.
1967 Referendum

> '67 Referendum: Spin, Myths and Meanings (Mar 07 - Mar 08) marked the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. To read more about the referendum visit the Collaborating for Indigenous Rights website.

Behind the Lines 2007: The Year's Best Cartoons
> Behind the Lines 2007: The Year's Best Cartoons
The best of the Museum's collection of political cartoons from the Australian federal election year of 2007. View the collection online.
Detail from Honey Ant Hunt, 1975 by Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri.

> Papunya Painting: Out of the Desert (Nov 07 - Feb 08)
highlighted the National Museum's extraordinary collection of Western Desert art. Explore the online exhibition for a unique insight into these paintings, and their stories of land, history and culture.

Migration Memories

> Migration Memories (Sep - Nov 2007) explored the migration stories of people from diverse backgrounds who now call the distinctively different regional centres of Lightning Ridge and Robinvale home. Limited material available online.

Expo 67 Montreal

> Australia at Expo 67 Montreal (Sep - Oct 07)
In 1967 Canada's Montreal welcomed more than 50 million visitors to Expo 67 over a period of six months. Forty years on, explore the world of Australia at Expo 67 Montreal in this online exhibition.

> Horizons (Mar 01 - Oct 07) traced incredible stories of human relocation. It looked at how migration shaped the Australia we know today, and the role governments have played.
Great Railway Journeys of Australia exhibition

> Great Railway Journeys of Australia (Apr - Aug 07) explored the development of Australia's rail network and featured some of the most famous railway journeys in the country. A small selection of images is available online.

Miss Australia: A Nation's Quest

> Miss Australia: A Nation's Quest (Mar - Jun 07) traced the history of the quest from humble beginnings in 1907, through to its final year in 2000. View titleholders and test your knowledge with questions that were posed to the 1957 Miss Australia finalists.

Collector Cam King exhibition

> Collector Cam King (Jan - Feb 07). A selection of Brian and Barbara Lynch's old grocery wares and toys were displayed when they won the Collector Cam competition run by ABC Television's Collectors. Explore Brian's collection and story online.

Behind the Lines: The year's best cartoons 2006

> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons - 2006 (Dec 06 - Mar 07). A selection of the best works from Australia's leading political cartoonists. View the collection online.

Between the Flags

> Between the Flags: 100 Years of Surf Lifesaving (Dec 06 - Feb 07) celebrated the centenary of surf lifesaving in Australia. Share online stories from surf lifesavers and explore 100 years of service protecting the nation's beaches.

Beaded Links exhibition

> Beaded Links (Aug 06 - Feb 07) showcased the creative uses of beads across Commonwealth national over many centuries. Limited supporting material available online.

Cook's Pacific Encounters

> Cook's Pacific Encounters (Jul - Sep 06) displayed rarely seen Pacific artefacts collected during the voyages of Captain James Cook. View the Cook-Forster collection from the University of Göttingen online.

Life in the Pacific

> Life in the Pacific: The 21st Century (Jul - Sep 06)
A documentary photographic exhibition that featured 80 works by students from Pacific Island communities. A small selection is available online.

Our Land is Alive

> Our Land is Alive: 30 Years of the Central Land Council (Jun - Jul 06) A photographic exhibition featuring highlights from the archival collection of the Central Land Council in Alice Springs. Limited images available online.

Exiles and Emigrants

> Exiles and Emigrants (Apr - Jun 06) traced epic journeys from the United Kingdom to Australia in the Victorian era. Limited material available online.

Kewpie doll, Gift of the NSW Government, part of the Sydney 2000 Games collection

> Captivating and Curious (Dec 05 - Mar 06) showed the museum's rich and varied collection, with new acquisitions and old favourites from the National Historical Collection. See the stories behind the objects, interactives and the history of the collection online.

A Summer of Cricket

> A Summer of Cricket (Mar - Jun 2006) captured the spirit of cricket as it has been played and watched by generations of Australians. Test your knowledge of cricketing terms and try the online interactives.

People of the Cedar

> People of the Cedar (Mar - May 06) expressed the richness of artistic culture among the First Nation Peoples of Canada's Northwest Coast. Some information available online.

The Waterhole

> The Waterhole (Oct 05 - Feb 06). Based on Graeme Base's popular children's book The Waterhole. An interview with Graeme Base and clues to reading the book are available online.

In search of the Birdsville Track

> In Search of the Birdsville Track (Jun - Oct 05) followed the young English artist Noelle Sandwith on her journey along the Birdsville Track. Explore a selection of Sandwith's sketches online.

Behind the Lines

> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons - 2004 (Mar - Jun 05)
More top cartoons from the National Museum's annual political cartooning competition. Works from more than 60 artists online.

Extremes

> Extremes (Dec 04 - Aug 05) explored some of the world's great southern deserts. Trace the history, culture and commonalities of Southern Africa's Namib and Kalahari deserts, South America's Atacama, and Australia's Red Centre online.

Behind the Lines

> Behind the Lines: The Year's Best Cartoons - 2003 (Jul - Oct 04)
A retrospective look at the issues and people that shaped the political year that was 2003. View the cartoons online.

> Royal Romance (Feb - Oct 04) examined Australia's passionate response to Queen Elizabeth II's first visit in 1954, and whether the nation has fallen out of love since. See the detailed online exhibition.

Paipa

> Paipa (Jul 02 - Jul 06) explored Torres Strait Islander migration and the continuing strong cultural connections between mainland communities and the Torres Strait. Limited information available online.