The Museum of Tropical Queensland, also called MTQ, is located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, in the state of Queensland [1]. MTQ is a member of the Queensland Museum Campus Network [2]. Townsville (Postcodes: 4810-4819) is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, located in the state of Queensland. ... Capital Brisbane Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Quentin Bryce Premier Peter Beattie (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 28  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $158,506 (3rd)  - Product per capita  $40,170/person (6th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  4,070,400 (3rd)  - Density  2. ... Queensland Museum — 1862–1869 The Windmill in Wickham Terrace ( Queensland Museums first home ) Queensland Museum — 1879–1899 cnr. ...

History

The museum opened in 1987 under the direction of Dr. Carden Wallace, at that time titled 'Curator in Charge'[3]. Its new building was built at a cost of $18 million Australian dollars [4], and was opened on 3 June 2000 by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie [5]. June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Peter Douglas Beattie (born 18 November 1952), Australian politician, is the Premier of the Australian state of Queensland and leader of the Australian Labor Party in that state. ...

In 1997, Dr. Wallace was named Director of the museum [6].

In 2003, Sally Lewis was named Director of the museum[7].

Research

Scientists in the museum have gained international recognition in various fields, particularly those with marine themes.

Marine archaeology

The museum houses artefacts recovered from the wreck of HMS Pandora, one of the most significant wrecks in Australian waters. The Pandora sank off the coast of north Queensland in 1791 after capturing some of the participants in the infamous mutiny on the Bounty. HMS Pandora was a 24-gun frigate of the Royal Navy, built by Adams and Barnard at Deptford, and launched on 17 May 1779. ... The mutineers turning Lt Bligh and some of the officers and crew adrift from HMAV Bounty, 29 April 1789. ...

The Maritime Archaeology Section administers the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, which covers sites including the Pandora and SS Yongala wrecks. Access to these sites is through permit only[8].

Marine megafauna

In 2006, worldwide attention was received for the discovery of the Australian Snubfin Dolphin, the first species of dolphin to be discovered in 56 years [9]. Binomial name Orcaella heinsohni Beasley, Robertson, Arnold, 2005 The Australian Snubfin Dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) is a recently recognised species of dolphin first described in 2005. ... Genera See article below. ...

Corals

The museum also houses what has been described as 'the scientifically most important coral collection in the world' [10].

References

• 'Getting Here'
• 'Queensland Museum Campus Network'
• Queensland Museum Annual Report 1999-2000
• 'Profile of Townsville City Area'
• New dolphin species under the spotlight at MTQ
• 'Ask a Staghorn Coral'
• 'Women Scientists at the Queensland Museum'
• 'Wallace, Carden: Bright Sparcs Biographical entry'
• Queensland Museum Annual Report 2002-2003

External links

• Museum of Tropical Queensland