Public spaces at the Royal Australian Mint will close early next year and move temporarily to CMAG in Civic while redevelopment at the Deakin site is underway. Photo: Royal Australian Mint.
The Royal Australian Mint will set up a temporary exhibition space and coin shop at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) in Civic next year while the Mint site at Deakin undergoes redevelopment.
The Mint, which produces circulating coins for Australia and overseas countries, as well as collectible and investment coins and medals, is also one of Canberra’s most popular tourist venues, attracting around 360,000 visitors annually. It was established in the national capital in 1965, the year before the introduction of decimal currency.
The move to Civic was developed as a partnership between the Mint and the ACT Government’s Cultural Facilities Corporation, which manages CMAG.
CEO of the Mint Leigh Gordon said a special exhibition would mark the opening of the Mint at CMAG in February 2024.
“The exhibition will explore the ways change, in all its forms, has been a key part of the Mint story,” Dr Gordon said.
“It enables us to tell new stories and display objects from the National Coin Collection that have never before been displayed at the Mint.
“The exhibition aims to get people thinking about the social, technical, societal and personal changes that have occurred since decimalisation of Australia’s currency in 1966 and how the Mint has been a part of this history-making transition.”
He said having a dedicated, offsite space would allow the Mint to continue to educate school children and general visitors while the Deakin site was closed for renovations.
CEO of the Royal Australian Mint, Leigh Gordon, said a new exhibition would mark the opening of the temporary gallery at CMAG. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation Gordon Ramsay said the collaboration underscored the commitment of both institutions to deliver world-class cultural experiences to the people of Canberra and its visitors.
“The CFC looks forward to welcoming many thousands of new visitors to Civic Square to explore this new way of engaging with the Mint, enjoying the excellent coffee and meals at the CMAG café, and taking in the CMAG exhibitions, including our award-winning Canberra/Kamberri – People & Place permanent Canberra story,” Mr Ramsay said.
A Mint spokesperson said the Deakin exhibition gallery would close on 29 January next year. It is scheduled to reopen at CMAG in the second week of February when the new exhibition is installed.
The Mint’s public programs staff, from the gallery and the shop, will move to CMAG, while the remaining staff, including administration and factory employees, will stay at Deakin during the renovation works.
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