Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory facts for kids
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MAGNT Darwin in 2023
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Founder | Colin Jack-Hinton |
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) is the most important museum in the Northern Territory of Australia. You can find its main building in The Gardens, a suburb of Darwin. The MAGNT shows off many different exhibitions each year. Some of these shows are created by the museum itself, while others travel from other parts of Australia. It is also where the yearly Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award takes place. This is Australia's oldest award for Indigenous Australian artists.
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History of the MAGNT
In 1964, people in the Northern Territory decided to create a museum in Darwin. They formed a special board to make this happen. The first director, Colin Jack-Hinton, started his job in 1970. The Old Town Hall in Smith Street was chosen as the first home for the museum.
The museum planned to show items from Southeast Asian and Pacific cultures. It also wanted to display things about maritime history (history of the sea), natural sciences, Indigenous Australian culture, and modern art. The building was almost ready when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974. The cyclone badly damaged the building. Some of the art collections were also harmed. The items that were saved were then stored in different rented places around Darwin.
After the cyclone, it took three years for the Commonwealth Government to approve a new museum. In 1977, they agreed to build it at Bullocky Point. Construction on the new museum began in 1979.
Museum Locations and Facilities
Darwin's Main Museum and Art Gallery
The new museum building was officially opened on 10 September 1981. The Governor General of Australia, Sir Zelman Cowen, opened it. It was first called the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences. This museum showed the history, science, and art of the region and its people.
In 1992, an extra part was built onto the museum. This new section was made to display the Northern Territory's maritime history. In 1993, the museum's name was changed to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, or MAGNT.
Fannie Bay Gaol Historic Site
The MAGNT also looks after Fannie Bay Gaol. This is a historic old prison located in the coastal suburb of Fannie Bay in Darwin.
Defence of Darwin Experience
The Defence of Darwin Experience is another place managed by the MAGNT. It is located at East Point in Darwin. This experience tells the story of the Northern Territory's role in World War II. It focuses on the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. Visitors can learn about this history through interactive displays. It opened in February 2012.
Museum of Central Australia and Strehlow Research Centre
The MAGNT also manages two places in Alice Springs. These are the Museum of Central Australia and the Strehlow Research Centre. They are both part of the Araluen Arts Precinct.
Collections at the MAGNT
The museum has a huge collection of art and cultural items. There are over 30,000 pieces! One very famous exhibit is the body of Sweetheart. Sweetheart was a large crocodile known for attacking boats in the 1970s.
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See also
