The birthday heart on the door of Melbourne Museum.
Image: Benjamin Healley
Source: Museum Victoria
Exactly ten years ago today, Melbourne Museum officially opened its doors.
Before then, the National Museum of Victoria had resided at 328 Swanston Street since 1899 alongside the State Library. It was bursting at the seams and needed a building of its own. The Carlton Gardens complex was custom-built with the museum's needs in mind, such as large exhibition galleries, climate control for conservation, easy access for exhibition development and maintenance, and modern research facilities. Over 7.5 million people have visited the museum in the past decade.
Staff marked the occasion with a birthday party this morning in the Melbourne Museum foyer, which is decorated with special birthday signs. Many of the staff attending were at the museum on day one and recall standing on the glass balcony, watching the very first visitors enter the building ten years before.
The tenth birthday celebrations include several exciting events at the museum. The fourth and final exhibition in the Science and Life Gallery redevelopment, Dynamic Earth, will open on Friday 22 October, while on Sunday 24 October, a special Community Celebration features a live ABC 774 broadcast, performances and activities. A free iPad app featuring treasures and iconic objects in the museum, Please touch the exhibit, will be available next week.