History
In 1964 a Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council of the NT to establish a museum in Darwin by setting up the Museums and Art Galleries Board of the Northern Territory. The first Director, Dr Colin Jack-Hinton, was appointed in January 1970 and the first collections were transferred from the Commonwealth Welfare Collection of Aboriginal Material Culture and Art, Canberra, and the Animal Industry and Agricultural Branch collection of mammals and birds.
A collection of art works by contemporary artists inspired by the Territory and a representative collection of works of the Namatjira-Hermansburg School were also collected at this time. The Old Town Hall in Smith Street, Darwin was chosen as the Museum's first 'home'. Jack-Hinton's vision for the museum centred on Southeast Asian and Pacific culture, maritime history, natural sciences, Indigenous culture and contemporary art, all of which continue to be important collecting areas for the Museum.
Renovations to the Old Town Hall were almost complete by Christmas Eve 1974 when Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin. Cyclone Tracy caused major structural damage to the building and a major portion of the collection was irreparably damaged, both during the cyclone and in the days immediately after. In the aftermath, the salvaged collections were housed in rented space scattered around Darwin and museum visitors became used to attending activities at the NZ Victoria Insurance building.
It was not until 1977 that the Commonwealth Government approved establishment of a new museum at Bullocky Point on land transferred from the Department of Education. In 1978, the Northern Territory was granted self-government, and funding for the new building was confirmed and construction commenced in November 1979.
The present facility at Bullocky Point was opened on 10th September 1981 by the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency the Right Honourable, Sir Zelman Cowan, and was known as the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences. The new museum featured the history, science and visual art of the region and its peoples. An extension was completed in June 1992 to display the Territory's maritime history. Dr Jack-Hinton retired in 1992, and in 1993 the name was changed to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
 |
 |
|
