The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, centering on natural history and anthropology, with collections centering on vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as minerology, palaeontology, and anthropology. A museum is typically a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education enjoyment, the tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment. ... Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as a number of distinct scientific disciplines. ... Anthropology (from the Greek word άνθρωπος = human) consists of the study of humankind (see genus Homo). ... Typical classes Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Placodermi - extinct Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii - extinct Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) Amphibia (amphibians) Reptilia (reptiles) Aves (birds) Mammalia (mammals) Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns. ... Invertebrate is a term coined by Chevalier de Lamarck to describe any animal without a backbone or vertebra, like insects, squids and worms. ... Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Mineralogy is an earth science that involves the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals. ... A paleontologist carefully chips rock from a column of dinosaur vertebrae. ... Anthropology (from the Greek word άνθρωπος = human) consists of the study of humankind (see genus Homo). ...

Originally known as the Colonial Museum or Sydney Museum, the Museum was renamed in June 1836 by a Sub-Committee meeting, when it was resolved during an argument that it should be renamed the Australian Museum.

The museum was founded on March 30, 1827, by Earl Bathurst, then the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who wrote to the Governor of New South Wales, of his intent to found a public museum, and provisions to provide £200 yearly towards its upkeep. March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 1827 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Earl Bathust can also refer to 5051 Earl Bathurst, a Castle class locomotive. ... The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet official in charge of managing the various British colonies. ... Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Nickname: Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ...

The establishment of a museum had been planned in 1821 by the Philosophical Society of Australasia, and, although specimens were collected, the Society folded in 1822. In 1826, however, upon the arrival of entomologist and Fellow of the Linnean Society of London Alexander Macleay, who, after being appointed New South Wales Colonial Secretary, began lobbying for a museum. 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1822 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1826 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Entomology is the scientific study of insects. ... The Linnean Society of London is the worlds premier society for the study and dissemination about taxonomy. ... The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet official in charge of managing the various British colonies. ...

The first location of the museum was likely a room in the offices of the Colonial Secretary, although for the next 30 years it moved to several other locations in Sydney, until moving into its currently location in 1849. This building was first opened to the public in May 1857. This is about the city of Sydney in Australia. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The first chairman of the museum was William Holmes, who was appointed on June 16, 1829. He was accidentally shot while at Moreton Bay on assignment, in August 1831. June 16 is the 167th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (168th in leap years), with 198 days remaining. ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Moreton Bay is a large bay on the eastern coast of Australia 19km from Brisbane, Queensland. ... 1831 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

The Museum was administered directly by the colonial government until June 1836, until the establishment of a Committee of Superintendence of the Australian Museum and Botanical Garden. Sub-committees were established for each institution. Members of these committees were generally the ruling members of the political and scientific elite of Sydney; and scions of the Macleay served until 1853, at which point the Committee was abolished. 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

In that year, the government drafted the Australian Museum Act, thereby incorporating it and establishing a Board of Trustees consisting of 24 members. William Sharp Macleay, the former Committee chairman, continued to serve as the Chairman of this committee. Incorporation is: In business, incorporation is the creation of a corporation. ...

The first curator of the Australian Museum was well-known naturalist George Bennett, appointed in 1835, who was the first to catalogue the Museum's collections. After his 1841 resignation, he was succeeded by Rev. W.B. Clarke until 1843, and then by William Sheridan Wall, a longtime collector with the Museum. Natural history is an umbrella term for what are now usually viewed as a number of distinct scientific disciplines. ... 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In these early years, collecting was the main priority of the Museum. Specimens were commonly traded with English and European institutions. The scientific stature of the Museum was established under the curatorship of Gerard Krefft, who served until 1874, himself a well-published scientist. His successor, Edward Pierson Ramsay, who served until 1894, greatly increased the recruitment of scientific staff within the institution. Johann Ludwig (Louis) Gerard Krefft (1830-1881), German by birth, became one of Australias first and greatest zoologists and palaeontologists. ... 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Edward Pierson Ramsay (December 3, 1842 - December 16, 1916) was an Australian zoologist specialized in ornithology. ... 1894 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The museum catalogues, first documented by Bennett, were the first scientific publications by the Museum, but with the addition of science staff, and thereby, research output, in 1890 Ramsay started the Records of the Australian Museum a publication which continues to this day. 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1918, the position of Curator was renamed Director and Curator, and from 1921, Director. In 1948, the Scientific Assistants (the scientific staff) were redesignated Curators and Assistant Curators. In 1983, during a period of reorganisation, the position of Curator was changed, becoming Collection Manager. 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

During the 19th century, galleries mainly included large display cases overly filled with specimins and artifacts. Displays grew to include dioramas showing habitat groups beginning in the 1920s, but otherwise, the Museum was largely unchanged during the timespan beginning with the curatorship of Robert Etheridge Jr (1895-1919), until 1954, with the appointment of John Evans. Under his direction, additional buildings were built, several galleries were entirely overhauled, and a new Exhibitions department was created. The size of the education staff was also radically increased. By the end of the 1950s, all of the galleries had been completely overhauled. A diorama is a partially three dimensional model of a landscape typically showing historical events, nature scenes, cityscapes, etc. ... Sometimes referred to as the Roaring Twenties. Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy Gun. ... 1954 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Museum's growth in the field of scientific research continued with Frank Talbot, who succeeded Evans in 1966, and a new department of Environmental Studies was created in 1968. The museum support society TAMS (The Australian Museum Society) was formed in 1972, and in 1973 the Lizard Island Research Station (LIMS), was established near Cairns. A scientific method or process is considered fundamental to the scientific investigation and acquisition of new knowledge based upon physical evidence. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Environmental science is the science of the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, including their effects on all types of organisms. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Cairns is a regional city located in far north Queensland, Australia. ...

Director Des Griffin, the successor to Talbot, oversaw extensions to the original Musum building, which were completed in 1988. His direction saw increased cooperation with Aborigines, leading to new exhibitions and policies, as well as repatriations of artefacts. 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Australian Aborigines are the indigenous peoples of Australia. ...

In 1995, the museum established new research centres in Conservation, Biodiversity, Evolutionary Research, Geodiversity, and People and Places. In 1998, the djamu gallery opened at Customs House, Circular Quay, the first major new venue for the Museum beyond College Street site. A series of exhibitions on Indigenous culture were displayed until the gallery closed at the end of 2000. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Conservation may refer to the following: Conservation ethic in relation to preserving ecosystems Conservationist Conservation movement Conservation law of physics Conservation of energy Conservation of mass Conservation in genetics This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Biodiversity or biological diversity is the diversity of and in living nature. ... Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory Although generally, evolution is taken to mean any process of change over time, in the context of life science, evolution is a change in the traits of living organisms over generations, including the emergence of new species. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The south facade of the Custom House by night The Custom House is a palladian 18th century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. ... Categories: Suburbs of Sydney | Incomplete Sydney suburbs ...

External links

• Australian Museum Online (http://www.amonline.net.au/index.cfm?)
• Events calendar (http://www.amonline.net.au/visiting/whatson/)
• Past staff details (http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/about/research/staff.htm#paststaff)