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Science & Measurement Collection
Image: Microscope
Source: Museum Victoria
This diverse and selective collection represents significant aspects of Australian scientific research and applied science since the 19th century.
Significant items have been acquired directly from scientists or their institutions, including universities, government departments and the CSIRO. The collection also includes representative examples of laboratory equipment and scientific teaching and demonstration apparatus.
Apart from their scientific purpose, many items hold value as extraordinary examples of design and craftsmanship and as manifestations of the impact of science and technology on people's daily lives.
The collection particularly emphasises local scientific research and practical applications of science pertaining to the history of Victoria, but also includes objects from a broader history of science, such as objects from the Soviet and US space programs.
Significant items
- Scientific equipment developed by Australian scientists: Shephard Ruling Engine (1890s), Steele-Grant Microbalance (1909), Laby-Hercus apparatus for the determination of the mechanical equivalent of heat (1920s) and the first atomic absorption spectrophometer, developed by Alan Walsh at CSIRO (1952).
- Important examples of 19th and 20th century scientific equipment, including physics and chemistry laboratory equipment.
- Representative microscope collection, from Culpeper microscopes (1740s) to early electron microscope (1949).
- Astronomical equipment from the Melbourne Observatory (1860s-1946), including an eight-inch transit telescope (1884), and parts of the Great Melbourne Telescope (1868); associated archival material, photographs, and astronomical photographic plates.
- Original astronomical observations of Ernst Hartung.
- Primary weights and measures of Victoria from the 19th and 20th century, used for establishing standards and testing.
- Surveying equipment, including theodolites, telescopes and measuring rods used in the Geodetic Survey of Victoria (1858-72).
- Meteorological equipment, including items used in the Shackleton Antarctic expedition (1914-17).
- Equipment and personal effects from the exploration of Antarctica, from the early period (Shackleton 1907-09 and Rayner 1927-39) to the era of scientific exploration and establishment of permanent bases (1949-1960s).
See 'Collectors of Time', an essay on this collection from A Museum for the People: A history of Museum Victoria and its predecessor institutions 1854-2000.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 1633 items
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Digital Image - Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1880
Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1880. Kemp was assistant astronomer at Melbourne Observatory from 1873 to 1914.
Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1895
Portrait of Frederick Kemp, circa 1895. Kemp was assistant astronomer at Melbourne Observatory from 1873 to 1914.
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Old Melbourne Herbarium, Victoria, Feb 1935
Photograph of the old Melbourne Herbarium, by Rolf Baldwin, the son of the Government Astronomer, Joseph Baldwin, Feb 1935. The photograph was taken just prior to the demolition of the ...
Images: 1 -
Digital Image - Poem on the Departure of Joseph Burley, Melbourne Observatory, 1890
Poem by W. J. Swan on the departure of Joseph Burley, Melbourne Observatory, 10 or 18 September 1890. Joseph Burley was a messenger and mechanical attendant at Melbourne Observatory fr ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - South Collimating Mark, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1 ...
Small building housing the south collimating mark at Melbourne Observatory. The collimating mark was on the meridian line of the East Transit Telescope, and used to check the alignment ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - National Herbarium of Victoria, The Domain, South Yarra, Victoria, Jan 1935
Construction of the new building for the National Herbarium of Victoria, in the grounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Photograph taken by Rolf Baldwin, son of the third Gove ...
Images: 2 -
Photograph - S.Y. Aurora, Framed, 1911-1914
Framed black & white photograph of the ship, S. Y. Aurora, 1911-1914. This photograph was given to Robert Bage by Captain John King Davis, circa 1914. Davis was Captain of the Aurora an ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Vehicle at the Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria ...
One of twenty-eight 35mm colour negatives in seven strips (four negatives to a strip). The Key Ceremony was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Joan Kirner at the Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Vict ...
One of twenty-eight 35mm colour negatives in seven strips (four negatives to a strip). The Key Ceremony was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Macquarie Island Station, The Australian National Antarctic Research Expediti ...
Black and white image depicting the ANARE Station at Macquarie Island. It is one of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Staff Looking at a Stereoviewer, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria, 17 May 1991
One of twenty-eight 35mm colour negatives in seven strips (four negatives to a strip). The Key Ceremony was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Joan Kirner arriving at the Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Scienceworks, Spotsw ...
One of twenty-eight 35mm colour negatives in seven strips (four negatives to a strip). The Key Ceremony was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Cosmic Ray Tel ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Scientists Sta ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Supplies Being ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), 'Weasel Breaks ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Surveyor and E ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), Transmitter an ...
One of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing images of icebergs, birds, people, landscapes, transport and the establishmen ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Martin Spencer-Hogbin using his Hezzanith Sextant, circa 1950
Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin using his sextant. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin's seafaring ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Martin Spencer-Hogbin using his Hezzanith Sextant, circa 1950
Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin using his sextant. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin's seafaring ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Funnel of the SS Nestor, 1947-1948
The funnel of the SS Nestor. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin's seafaring career. Martin ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Funnel of the SS Nestor, 1947-1948
The funnel of the SS Nestor. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to Mr Martin Spencer-Hogbin's seafaring career. Martin ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - SS Peleus Docked at Unknown Port, circa 1949
View of the Blue Funnel shipping line ship SS Peleus docked at an unknown port. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - SS Peleus Docked at Unknown Port, circa 1949
View of the Blue Funnel shipping line ship SS Peleus docked at an unknown port. One of six black and white copy negatives depicting ships and maritime navigational tools that relate to ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Two Men with Weasel Vehicle & Sleds, The Australian National Antarctic Resear ...
Black and white image of two ANARE team members checking or loading a sled being pulled by a Weasel oversnow vehicle in Antarctica. The Weasel was the first mechanical oversnow vehicle ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Man & Dog Team, The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) ...
Black and white image showing an ANARE team member and his dog team at rest, they appear to be watching a penguin waddling across the snow in front of them. It is one of a set of 12 b ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Mawson Station, The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) ...
Black and white image showing Mawson Station.It is situated on an isolated outcrop of rock on the coast in Mac Robertson Land, at the edge of the Antarctic plateau. Built in 1954 it is ...
Images: 1 -
Photograph - Survey Work, The Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE), A ...
Black and white image of an ANARE team member undertaking survey work. It is one of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and 1960s showing ...
Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Glass Negative - Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, 1889
Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, 1889.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
Engraving - Main Building, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, 1880s
Coloured engraving of Main Building of Melbourne Observatory. Depicts the observatory after 1883 (when the East Transit Room was built) and prior to 1892 (when the Computing Room was bu ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Pietro Baracchi at Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 19 ...
Pietro Baracchi, Government Astronomer 1895-1915, standing at the entrance of the main observatory building, Melbourne Observatory
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 1922
In 1922, Victorian Government Astronomer Joseph Baldwin led a Melbourne Observatory solar eclipse expedition to Goondiwindi, Queensland, joining with another group from Sydney Observato ...
From: Goondiwindi, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Magpie Lark's Nest, by A.J. Campbell, Australia, circa 1895
Strong deep cup/bowl nest lined with feathers containing 4 eggs.
Images: 1 -
Photograph - by George Rayner, Beascochea Bay, Antarctica, 1927-1939
Photograph taken during a series of scientific expeditions undertaken in the waters off Antarctica, during the late 1920s and 1930s. Probably taken by George W. Rayner, who was employed ...
Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Observing Site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 19 ...
View of the observing site, Solar Eclipse Expedition, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Sep 1922, prior to erection of temporary huts. In 1922, Victorian Government Astronomer Joseph Baldwin le ...
From: Goondiwindi, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Construction of Astronomer's Residence, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarr ...
Construction of Astronomer's Residence at Melbourne Observatory, 1889.
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 1 -
Glass Negative - Cloud Camera, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1896
Cloud Camera erected in grounds of Melbourne Observatory, circa 1896. One of a pair of cloud cameras located at Melbourne Observatory and Parliament House to measure the height and velo ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0 -
Photograph - Three Men Surveying Landscape, The Australian National Antarctic Research Exp ...
Black and white image of three ANARE team members surveying an Antarctic coastline. It is one of a set of 12 black and white photographs of the Antarctic taken mostly in the 1950s and ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Joseph Lowy, Honorary Curator of Horology, 1970s
Photograph of Joseph Lowy, Melbourne watchmaker, who was appointed Honorary Curator of Horology to the Museum of Applied Science (later Science Museum of Victoria) in 1953, retaining th ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Joseph Lowy, Honorary Curator of Horology, 1970s
Photograph of Joseph Lowy, Melbourne watchmaker, who was appointed Honorary Curator of Horology to the Museum of Applied Science (later Science Museum of Victoria) in 1953, retaining th ...
Images: 3 -
Photograph - 'Portrait of J.H. Close', Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914
Photograph of J.H. Close taken by Frank Hurley on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914. Part of a collection of Antarctic exploration documents and photographs. Close worke ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Speech, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria, 17 Ma ...
One of thirty-two 35mm colour negatives in nine strips. The Key Ceremony depicted in this image was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building and staf ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria, 17 May 1991
One of thirty-two 35mm colour negatives in nine strips. The Key Ceremony depicted in this image was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building and staf ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Handing Over the Key Ceremony, Speech, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria, 17 Ma ...
One of thirty-two 35mm colour negatives in nine strips. The Key Ceremony depicted in this image was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building and staf ...
Images: 1 -
Negative - Handing Over the Key Ceremony Signing, Scienceworks, Spotswood, Victoria, 17 Ma ...
One of thirty-two 35mm colour negatives in nine strips. The Key Ceremony depicted in this image was the day the Museum was officially handed the 'key' to the completed building and staf ...
Images: 1 -
Postcard - 'Afghan Camel Rider, South Australia', South Australia, 1900-1920
Postcard featuring black and white image of man wearing turban, seated on camel, made circa 1900 - 1920.
Images: 2 -
Lantern Slide - 'Scale of Expression', circa 1930s-1940s
Glass lantern slide reproducing a typed scale of human expression. Made by T.W. Cameron, Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, circa 1930s-1940s. One of a set of over 420 lantern slides, ...
Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Photograph - Construction of Oddie Dome at Mount Stromlo Observatory, 1911
Workers completing the construction of the Oddie telescope dome at Mount Stromlo, 1911. A 9 inch refracting telescope by Grubb, Dublin, was donated in 1910 by James Oddie of Ballarat, ...
From: Mt Stromlo, Australia Images: 0
