Melbourne Holocaust Museum facts for kids
The Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) is a special place in Elsternwick, Melbourne, Australia. It was started in 1984 by people who survived the Holocaust. The Holocaust was a terrible time between 1933 and 1945 when the Nazis murdered six million Jews.
This museum is now Australia's biggest place for learning about the Holocaust. It also helps people remember what happened. The museum's main goal is to share the stories of survivors. It wants to teach everyone to build a future without hatred, racism, or unfairness.
The museum began without much money from the government or big companies. It has always relied on help from Holocaust survivors, their families, and volunteers. Thanks to these amazing people, the MHM has become a very important place.
The museum has a huge collection of over 1,300 video stories from survivors. It also has more than 12,000 historical items. These include old papers, photos, artworks, and objects from the Holocaust time. They also have items from right after the Holocaust ended.
Miriam Fink was part of the first group that organized the museum. She and her husband, Leo, created a special fund. This fund helped them buy the building for the museum.
Contents
New Look for the Museum
In 2019, the museum started a big project to make its building new and modern. It worked with Kerstin Thompson Architects and McCorkell Constructions. The museum closed to visitors in 2020 for these changes. It was planned to open again in 2023.
In April 2023, just before reopening, the museum changed its name. It became the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and got a fresh new logo.
Exciting New Exhibitions
In November 2023, the museum officially opened its doors again to the public. It now has two main exhibition areas that are always open.
The first exhibition is called 'Everybody Had a Name'. This part of the museum shows the story of the Holocaust step by step. It starts by showing what Jewish life was like before the war. It then shows how local survivors built new lives in Melbourne after the war.
The second exhibition is called 'Hidden: Seven Children Saved'. This is a special, interactive display made for younger visitors aged 10 and up. It tells the amazing stories of seven children who had to hide during the Holocaust to stay safe.
The new museum also has a redesigned Pillars of Witness sculpture. This artwork was created by Andrew Rogers.
Education and Learning
A big focus of the museum is teaching younger people to stand against hate. Every year, tens of thousands of students visit the museum. They take part in special education programs. These programs are made to be just right for different age groups.
Besides guided tours for students, the museum also offers programs for adults. They train teachers and host many interesting events. These events are open to everyone in the public.
Austrian Volunteers
Since 2008, young Austrian volunteers have been able to work at the MHM. They can stay for 10 to 12 months. This work is an alternative to military service or civilian service in Austria.
These volunteers help with many important tasks. They translate documents and help set up exhibitions. They also work in the library and help organize photos.
See also
In Spanish: Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre para niños
- Jewish Museum of Australia
- Sydney Jewish Museum
- Australian Association for Jewish Studies
Sources/ External links
- Jewish Holocaust Centre
- Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service
- Austrian Service Abroad
