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 building in Canberra, Australia. It used to be a natural history museum and a place for medical research. It opened in 1931 and closed in 1985.

Since 1984, the building has been home to the National Film and Sound Archive. This important building is listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. This means it's a special place that needs to be protected for its history and design.

Discover the Building's Design

The building, now home to the National Film and Sound Archive, is a great example of Art Deco style. It has amazing details inspired by Australia. You'll see cool decorative parts that don't have a special job, just for looks! Look for straight lines, small sculptures, and zigzag patterns.

Many designs show Australian animals, Aboriginal art, and famous scientists. These remind us of the building's first purpose. Next to the main building is the old director's house. It's also Art Deco, but with fewer fancy decorations.

This building was one of the first important public buildings in Canberra. It helped make the city a place for national collections. A famous scientist named Professor Sir Colin MacKenzie started the Institute. It became known worldwide and attracted many visitors.

The building was built using clever methods for its time. These included hollow blocks and special concrete. Today, the National Film and Sound Archive uses the building. They work hard to save and share Australian films, TV shows, radio, and music. The building holds many important cultural items. Besides films and recordings, it has photos, posters, scripts, costumes, and old equipment.

Building's History and Style

The building has been home to the National Film and Sound Archive since 1984. Before that, from 1931 to 1984, it housed the Australian Institute of Anatomy. This is where Sir Colin MacKenzie kept his anatomy collection. It even included the heart of the famous racehorse Phar Lap! When MacKenzie passed away in 1938, his ashes were placed in the building's entrance hall.

The building looks grand and serious. It's often called Art Deco, but its main style is Inter-war Stripped Classical. This style was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It became popular again in the 1960s for government buildings in Canberra. Examples include the Law Courts (1961) and the National Library of Australia (1968).

Buildings in this style often have a balanced front, a flat roofline, classic columns, and a main entrance in the middle. They often use stone and terracotta. This building is known for having some of the best Australian Art Deco designs. You can see the Art Deco influence in the many decorations. These show native plants, animals, and Aboriginal art throughout the building.

The main entrance has a curved part with goannas, ferns, and waratahs. The entrance door has stone carvings of frilled lizards. Blue and green patterns under the front windows look like Aboriginal bark paintings. Inside the entrance hall, the floor has a beautiful pattern made of marble. The black marble came from Acton Peninsula, which is now under Lake Burley Griffin.

You'll also see a platypus skylight made with early plastic! Masks of famous scientists are on the walls. These remind everyone of the building's past as the Institute of Anatomy. Beyond the entrance hall is a peaceful courtyard. Each side of the courtyard has carved wombat heads above the arches. The courtyard leads to two galleries with interesting exhibitions.

The original part of the building has a theatre and a research center. Both areas have geometric Art Deco patterns. You'll see these patterns on the doors, vents, and lights throughout the building. In the 1930s, the theatre was where the Canberra Film Society met.

In 1984, the building became home to the new National Film and Sound Archive. They have worked hard to keep the building's historic look. For example, they fixed the sandstone front in 2019.

Famous Scientists on Display

The entrance hall walls feature twelve scientists. Two of these are death masks. Here are some of the scientists:

Name	Lived	From	Job
Sir Harry Brookes Allen	1854–1926	AUS	Doctor who studies diseases
John Bell	1763–1820	SCO	Expert in body structure
Charles Darwin	1809–1882	ENG	Studies nature and living things
George Britton Halford	1824–1910	ENG /  AUS	Expert in body structure and how bodies work
William Harvey	1578–1657	ENG	Expert in body structure
John Hunter	1728–1793	SCO	Surgeon
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck	1744–1829	FRA	Studies nature and living things
Joseph Lister	1827–1912	ENG	Surgeon
Louis Pasteur	1822–1895	FRA	Studies tiny living things and chemicals
Sir James Young Simpson	1811–1870	SCO	Doctor who helps with childbirth and pain relief
Sir Edward Charles Stirling	1848–1919	AUS	Surgeon
Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart	1856–1920	SCO /  AUS	Studies how bodies work

Building Expansions

In 1999, the National Film and Sound Archive needed more room. So, a large new wing was added to the back of the building. This new part was designed to match the original Art Deco style. Today, the building is open to everyone. It's a treasure chest of Australian film, TV, and sound recordings.

Heritage Listings

The building was listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List on June 22, 2004. This means it's recognized as a very important historic place.