Australian Institute of Anatomy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Australian Institute of Anatomy (former) building
The National Film and Sound Archive is now located in the former Australian Institute of Anatomy building.
Alternative names	National Film and Sound Archive building
General information
Status	Complete
Architectural style	Inter-war Stripped Classical Art Deco detailing and decorative elements
Location	McCoy Cct, Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Country	Australia
Coordinates	35°16′59″S 149°07′16″E / 35.283°S 149.121°E / -35.283; 149.121
Current tenants	National Film and Sound Archive
Renovated	1984; 1999; 2019
Owner	Commonwealth of Australia
Technical details
Material	Masonry; Hawkesbury sandstone
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Other designers	E. Bruce (landscape)
Commonwealth Heritage List
Official name: Institute of Anatomy (former), McCoy Cct, Acton, ACT, Australia
Type:	Listed place
Criteria:	A., B., D., F., G.
Designated:	22 June 2004
Reference #:	105351

The Australian Institute of Anatomy was a special place in Canberra, Australia. It was a natural history museum and a research institute for medical studies. It opened in 1931 and closed in 1985.

Today, the same building is home to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). This is where Australia's movies, TV shows, and music are kept safe. The building is very old and important, so it was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004.

The Institute started because a man named Colin Mackenzie wanted to study and protect Australia's native animals. He was worried they might disappear. He even helped start Healesville Sanctuary, a famous wildlife park. The Institute also looked after important items from Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. In 1984, the NFSA moved into the building.

Discovering the Building's Unique Style

The building is in Acton, Canberra. It has a main building, a garden area, and a house where the director used to live. The main building has a cool style called "Inter-war Stripped Classical." It also has amazing Art Deco designs.

These designs show off Australian animals, Aboriginal art, and famous scientists. You can see goannas, ferns, and waratahs carved into the entrance. The front door has stone carvings of frilled lizards. Blue and green patterns, like Aboriginal bark paintings, are under the windows.

Inside, the foyer has a beautiful marble floor with geometric shapes. The black marble came from Acton Peninsula, which is now under Lake Burley Griffin. There's even a platypus skylight! Masks of famous scientists are on the walls, reminding everyone of the building's past.

What Makes the Building Special?

This building was one of the first important public buildings in Canberra. It was built to help people learn more about Australia and to make Canberra a center for important collections. Colin Mackenzie was the first director, and the Institute became famous around the world.

The building was built using clever methods for its time. It had hollow blocks and special concrete floors. Since 1984, the National Film and Sound Archive has used the building. They work hard to save and share Australian films, TV, radio, and music.

The Archive keeps many cool things. These include old films, videos, audio tapes, and even old phonograph cylinders. They also have photos, posters, scripts, costumes, and props from movies and shows.

A Look at the Building's History

The building has been home to important collections for a long time. It first held Sir Colin MacKenzie's anatomy collection. This collection even included the heart of Phar Lap, a very famous Australian racehorse! When MacKenzie passed away in 1938, his ashes were placed in the building's foyer.

The building's style is often called Art Deco, but it's also known as "Inter-war Stripped Classical." This style was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Buildings in this style often look balanced, with straight lines and a main entrance in the middle. They often use stone, like the Hawkesbury sandstone used here.

Famous Scientists Honored Here

The foyer walls have faces of twelve important scientists. Two of these are death masks, which are copies of their faces made after they passed away. These scientists were from different countries and worked in fields like anatomy, surgery, and natural history.

Name	Lifetime	Nationality	Profession
Sir Harry Brookes Allen	1854–1926	AUS	Pathologist
John Bell	1763–1820	SCO	Anatomist
Charles Darwin	1809–1882	ENG	Naturalist
George Britton Halford	1824–1910	ENG /  AUS	Anatomist and physiologist
William Harvey	1578–1657	ENG	Anatomist
John Hunter	1728–1793	SCO	Surgeon
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck	1744–1829	FRA	Naturalist
Joseph Lister	1827–1912	ENG	Surgeon
Louis Pasteur	1822–1895	FRA	Microbiologist and chemist
Sir James Young Simpson	1811–1870	SCO	Obstetrician and anaesthetist
Sir Edward Charles Stirling	1848–1919	AUS	Surgeon
Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart	1856–1920	SCO /  AUS	Physiologist

Building Changes Over Time

In 1999, the National Film and Sound Archive needed more room. A large new section was added to the back of the building. This new part was designed to match the old Art Deco style perfectly.

Today, the building is open to everyone. It's a fantastic place to explore Australia's film, TV, and sound history. In 2019, the sandstone outside was even repaired to keep the building looking great.

Why This Building is Important

This building is very special to Australia. It was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1980. Later, it was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004. These lists help protect important places for future generations.