Mercury, Sue Atkinson, Roberta Poynter – P.26 – 31 Oct 2012

TASMANIA boasts many collections of national and international significance, including the state collection held at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery; the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery; the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and the Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office.
Away from the larger centres, throughout Tasmania there are to be found hidden treasures in history rooms, cottages and heritage-listed buildings, farm outbuildings, scientific establishments, schools and private homes. These are curated by both professionals and volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure the survival of Tasmania”s physical and cultural heritage and to interpret them for the wider community.
Some are rare and eclectic, ranging from sporting collections, machinery, industrial sites and chocolate, to military and maritime memorabilia, books, photographs, documents, paintings, costumes and textiles. They all have a story to tell and provide an invaluable resource for students to develop skills in the interpretation of the past and how it influences the present, to analyse and interpret sources and, with an inquiry-based approach, reflect and communicate ideas.
Home Hill, Devonport
HOME Hill is a fascinating property which offers a glimpse into the lives of two extraordinary Australians Joseph and Enid Lyons and their family of 12 children. Home Hill is a tangible reminder of the wonderful family and political partnership shared by Joe (the first Tasmanian- born prime minister) and Dame Enid (the first woman elected to the House of Representatives) which is unmatched in Australian political life. It was, except from a few brief periods, their family home for their entire lives and where they found refuge from public life and kept their sense of the importance of home and family for all Australians.
Things to explore:
Discover the stories of your family history through photographs. Set up a classroom exhibition (use copies not originals) Find out more about the Lyons family and compare the differences family structures today
St Helens History Room
AT the St Helens History Room, there are more than 1000 artefacts on display. These are presented thematically to represent the various stages of settlement of St Helens and the North East. A highlight is the interactive model of the Anchor Mine Water Wheel, said to have been the largest water wheel in the southern hemisphere in 1898. The amazing stories of Chinese tin miners and how the environment was changed and technology shaped the lives of the community is explored in the Trail of the Tin Dragon.
Things to explore:
Use Google Earth to plot the tin mining areas on the Blue Tier Compare the links with China and mining in Australia today Bass and Flinders Centre
THE Bass and Flinders museum is housed in an old cinema in George Town and displays many artefacts relating to the maritime history of Tasmania. There are replicas of Elizabeth, the whale boat Captain John Kelly sailed round Van Diemen”s Land in 1815 and the Norfolk, used by Bass and Flinders to circumnavigate VDL in 1798-99 to prove the existence of Bass Strait.
Things to explore:
Write a journal of events that may have occurred on a journey of discovery around Van Diemen”s Land Collect information about early maps and interpret them
Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre and Museum
TIAGARRA is an interpretation centre for the history and present day cultures of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. Situated on the Mersey Bluff at Devonport, there are several rock engraving sites on a nearby trail.
Things to explore:
Discuss the importance of place and country for Aboriginal people Listen to stories told by an Aboriginal Elder
The Australian Army Museum
THE Australian Army Museum Tasmania is located at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, and is housed in the former military prison built in 1847. The Barracks is a unique heritage precinct, with some of its buildings dating back to 1814. It is on the Commonwealth Heritage List as well as on the State Heritage Register. It is arguably one of the most historically significant heritage precincts in Tasmania, housing one of the finest colonial collections of militaria in the country.
Things to explore:
Research the roles in which the military were involved in the development of colonial settlements Invite a veteran of an armed conflict to tell their story
Woodsdale Museum
SHEEP shearing interpretation, farm and community sheds and the school room, set up in the period of the late 1800s provide a unique interactive experience. Located in the Midlands between Oatlands and Runnymede, the collections showcase farming traditions and a step back in time.
Things to explore:
Compare the differences between a school room 150 years ago with one of today Write and perform a play about life on a farm in rural Tasmania in the 19th century. Websites to explore:
http://tasmanianhistorygroups.edublogs.org/ http://eheritage.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/
www.thra.org.au
http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/tasmaniasheritage