The National Museum by night. Images of Canberra

This building – indeed the whole concept of a Museum of Australia – was only ever intended as a left wing revenge on the Howard government. The Hawke government initiated the project in the late 1980s and appointed an Aboriginal woman to head it. The intention was to open the project on January 1st, 2001 which was the Centenary of Federation and the intended first day of the Republic of Australia.

The Keating government planned to hold a referendum on the republic in 1996 or ’97, Aboriginal activist Lowitcha O’Donoghue would be appointed as Australia’s first president and the day would be a symbolic start of a new era.

As we all know, Keating lost office in March 1996, the Howard government scaled down the Museum of Australia project and the (delayed) republic referendum in 1999 was defeated. The Aboriginal woman remained as head of the Museum of Australia and when it opened in late 2001 the building was more a display of leftist pet causes than anything to do with mainstream Australian history. I remember during my first visit saying to my partner “If I see one more picture of a protest march I’ll scream”.

Many people complained about the material and the Howard government eventually managed to sack the Aboriginal woman and bring in a more representative head and governing body. Most of the leftist crap was cleansed from the Museum and it became far more representative of Australia.

I note in the Crimes last week the Aboriginal woman playing the race card as the reason she was sacked. Just goes to show that she – and others of her ilk – still don’t get it.

It is a glorious building. Not all architecture has to ‘fit in’ as if it were ashamed of itself.

Jethro said :

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

I must be one of the only people in Canberra who likes the National Museum building!

(Although I agree with the criticisms of what’s inside… it’s underwhelming to say the least).

The building itself has somewhat grown on me over the years, but I have never gotten over being told at a public consultation display that it will be low key and with strict height limitations and the foreshore trees will be preserved so it will sit very comfortably and discreetly on the peninsula . . and then they put that orange skateboard ramp thing on top which you can see for miles!

Jethro said :

I must be one of the only people in Canberra who likes the National Museum building!

Nup, I like it, too. Awesome bit of architecture.

Oh, and to Konazz: beautiful shot. You should think about http://www.harrisonartshow.weebly.com

I-filed said :

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

Sigh – I wish someone would blow it up!

+1

Maybe we could ask Kate Carnell…

artuoui said :

And what to do about the crap inside?

Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

I must be one of the only people in Canberra who likes the National Museum building!

(Although I agree with the criticisms of what’s inside… it’s underwhelming to say the least).

artuoui said :

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

And what to do about the crap inside?

I thought they’d got rid of the roomsful of alleged aboriginal axes? (rocks).

Top pic but, very pretty indeed.

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

Sigh – I wish someone would blow it up!

GardeningGirl said :

Great photo. Looks good at night (but what to do about it in daylight?).

And what to do about the crap inside?