The Museum Volunteers Podcast

Volunteer Paul shares details on the progression of written media and the technologies that allowed them. Image Details: 95/223/24 'Britannia' printing press No.561 Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks pr...

Volunteer Dinah discusses the interesting relationship between lace and communication. Image: Crochet picture, Anzac commemorative design, lace filet crochet, cotton, designed by Mary Card, made in Australia, c. 1920 Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connect...

Join volunteer Alan as he shares insights of iconic Australian companies; Cobb & Co and QANTAS Image Information: H3875 Cobb & Co mail and passenger coach, No.2 Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide...

Join volunteer Judy for a short history of the Sydney monorail. Image information: 2014/13/1 Monorail cars (2), Von Roll Mk III operator's cab (Car No. 1) and a passenger carriage (Car No. 2) from Train No. 3 of the Sydney Monorail Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum...

Join Volunteer Beth as she discusses Australia's first airmail route from Sydney to Melbourne. Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide access to the Museum collection and are designed to inspire conversations and evoke...

Join Volunteer Meg as she discusses the history of the invention of the Cochlear Implant. Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide access to the Museum collection and are designed to inspire conversations and evoke memories....

Join Volunteer Meg as she talks to us about the history and design of the iconic lockheed lounge. Image: 'Lockheed Lounge', and pattern mould;  designed by Marc Newson, made by Marc Newson and Eckhard Reissig, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988-1990 Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled indivi...

Join Volunteer Meg as she gives an informative talk on the Powerhouses Minton Peacock. Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide access to the Museum collection and are designed to inspire conversations and evoke memories. Ima...

Join Volunteer Hette as he discusses the light box delivery Wagon used by the Wong family. Image: American-style light box delivery wagon used by Wong family, NSW, 1870s-1916 Read More Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide...

Join volunteer Meg as she chats about whistles and how the have been used throughout the years. Image: Whistle owned by army Captain Watson Augustus Steel I 2021 Explore more Whistles in the Powerhouse Collection here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curios...

Assistant Curator for the Iranzamin Exhibition, Vanessa Jacob, shares insights from her experience working on this exhibition. Image Details: Persian royal tile کاشی قاجار 2021, Explore more objects from the Iranzamin exhibition here

Join Volunteer Judy as she gives a talk on the 'Supreme' Mouse trap sewing machine. Mouse trap making machine, metal / wood, AW Standfield and Co, Mascot, New South Wales, Australia, 1925-2000 Read More Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity. ...

Join Volunteer mike as he discusses the Warrendi Personal locator Beacon.  Personal locator beacon prototypes (4) and electronic components (5), developed for the 'Warrendi' Personal Locator Beacon', metal / wood / plastic / paper / elastic, designed and made by British Aerospace Australia / BAE Systems, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1997 Read More Volunteers are at the heart...

Join Volunteer Mike as he discusses the iconic Time Ball, at the Sydney Observatory.  Image: “Time ball, with cylinder, piston, rack and pinion lifting mechanism, safety lock, electric motor and ball” :  installed at Sydney Observatory, made by Maudslay, Sons & Field, England, c 1857  Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, gen...

Volunteer Erin discusses the history and context surrounding 'Clean up Australia day'. Image: 'Clean up Australia' and 'Clean up the World' promotional material. Promotional material (15), made for Clean Up Australia, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia, 1989-2000   Read more here   Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passiona...

Join the weekend volunteers as they discuss the history and impact of The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO);  an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research. Image: Silicon Sphere with stand and case made by Achim Leistner for CSIRO, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1994 Explore more objects from CSIRO here   Volunteers are at the heart of...

Join Volunteer Diana as she discusses the history and context surrounding Bicycles! And reflects on some of the Bicycles we have in our collection.  Image: "Bicycle, 'The Dux" made by the Dux Cycle Company, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1899. In 1900 Donald Mackay, became the third person to cycle around the Australian continent after Arthur Richardson and Alex White.  Explore our...

Join Andrew Grant as he does a photo evaluation of a photograph of the iconic Redfern Railway station. Image: Glass plate negative, full plate, 'Redfern Railway Station', Kerry and Co, Sydney, Australia, c. 1884-1906  Read more here   Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fo...

Join Volunteer Hette as he gives an informative talk on the iconic Boulton and Watt steam engine. Image: Boulton and Watt rotative steam engine, 1785.  This is the oldest rotative steam engine in the world. Matthew Boulton's capital and entrepreneurship, and James Watt's engineering skill and prudent management, made Boulton and Watt rotative engines the first commercially successful sta...

Join weekend volunteer Susanne as she shares stories about Locomotive No. 1, including its history and visitors frequently asked questions.  Locomotive No.1 , hauled the first passenger train in New South Wales in 1855, designed by James McConnell, made by Robert Stephenson and Company, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, 1854, used by New South Wales Government Railways 1855-1877 Read more here Volunteer...

Join Volunteer Meg as she gives an informative talk on the iconic Marilyn Lips Sofa. Image: 'Marilyn' lips sofa, made in Italy 2021. The Bocca sofa is one of the most recognised examples of designs from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Studio65 sought to rebel against tradition or as articulated in their manifesto create designs that were a "slap in the face of the public tastes&quot...

In this podcast, volunteer Hette talks about his own memories of miniature cars and play. Image: Dinky toy 'Shell Aviation Service' car . This toy is from a small collection of 16 pre-Second World War Dinky vehicles which illustrate design and production at a time when Dinky Toys were the market leaders in die-cast toy vehicles. Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community...

Join Volunteer Meg as she discusses the Grand Prix Bugatti. Image: 1928 Type 37A Grand Prix Bugatti During the 1920s Grand Prix Bugattis took to the circuits with unparalleled success the world over. Today they are credited with winning more Grand Prix races than any other make in the history of motor racing. Read more here Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually,...

Join Volunteer Judy, as she discusses a brief history of morse code. Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide access to the Museum collection and are designed to inspire conversations and evoke memories. Image: Early telegrap...

Join Volunteer Cierwen as she discusses a brief history of radios. Volunteers are at the heart of our community. Both on-site and virtually, these passionate, generous and skilled individuals contribute to a Museum that fosters connection and curiosity.  These virtual talks provide access to the Museum collection and are designed to inspire conversations and evoke memories. Image: "Portable t...