museums board of victoria 1999 - 2000 annual report 1999 – 2000 www.museum.vic.gov.au CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Who We Are and What We Do 4 Campuses and Facilities 4 Services 4 Vision 4 Mission 4 Values 4 Operating Principles 4 Strategic Priorities 4 President’s Message 5 Chief Executive Officer’s Message 6 A Year of Highlights 7 The Year in Brief 8 Performance Overview 9 48 REVIEW OF OPERATIONS 1 Melbourne Museum 12 Scienceworks Museum and Melbourne Planetarium 12 Immigration Museum and Hellenic Antiquities Museum 14 National Wool Museum 15 Outreach Services 16 Major Projects 16 Outreach, Technology and Information Services 17 1999 - 2000 Regional Services 17 Programs, Research and Collections 18 > Australian Society Program 18 > Environment Program 19 > Human Mind and Body Program 20 > Indigenous Cultures Program 21 annual annual report museums museums board victoria of > Science Program 21 > Technology Program 22 > Collection Management and Conservation 23 > Production Services 24 Museum Development 24 Corporate Services 25 PEOPLE IN MUSEUM VICTORIA Corporate Governance 28 Executive Management Team 30 Organisational and Functional Structures 31 Corporate Partners 32 Honorary Appointments 33 Volunteers 33 Museum Members 34 Museum Victoria Staff 35 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Research Projects 42 Lectures 42 Publications 42 Consultancies Commissioned by Museum Victoria 45 Freedom of Information 45 Legislative Changes 45 Availability of Additional Information 46 National Competition Policy 46 Year 2000 Compliance 46 Building and Maintenance Compliance 46 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Introduction to the Financial Statements 48 Index of Compliance 69 Fees and Charges 71 front cover: melbourne museum and royal exhibition building Glossary 72 museums board of victoria 2 melbourne museum entrance Who We Are and What We Do Campuses and Facilities Services Vision Mission Values Operating Principles Strategic Priorities President’s Message Chief Executive Officer’s Message A Year of Highlights The Year in Brief Performance Overview introduction 3 museums board of victoria 2 melbourne museum entrance Who We Are and What We Do Campuses and Facilities Services Vision Mission Values Operating Principles Strategic Priorities President’s Message Chief Executive Officer’s Message A Year of Highlights The Year in Brief Performance Overview introduction 3 WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO > Museum Member’s benefits > Attainment of international best PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE into the life and history of the Museum Victoria has a long history of and activities, practice and the maintenance of The past year has been one of intense forests, and how the forces of water, research and collections dating back to > leadership, advice and support the highest ethical standards in activity for the Museums Board and all earth movement, climate, fire and the establishment of the National to Victoria’s regional and all activities. Museum Victoria staff as we strive people make them dynamic and Museum of Victoria in 1854 and the specialist museums, > Promotion of a better understanding towards the opening of the new fascinating places. Industrial and Technological Museum of > collection development and of cultural diversity within society and Melbourne Museum in October 2000 Victoria (later known as the Science management advice to the special place of Indigenous and continue to enhance our existing > Human Mind and Body: The Immigration Museum continued to Museum of Victoria) in 1870. Formerly other institutions, communities in our nation. campuses and the programs they offer. A collaborative effort with a number build on its reputation as a venue that the Museum of Victoria, it was > loans of collection items to > Supporting personal and professional of Melbourne research institutions, explores complex migration issues with established by and operates under the other institutions, development of staff and the We have seen enormous progress in Medical Melbourne celebrates depth and sensitivity. It offers a focus on Museums Act 1983. The organisation > advice on donating and maintenance of a safe, equitable and the construction of the new Melbourne Melbourne as a centre of international the experiences and contributions of the changed its name to Museum Victoria conserving collections, invigorating working environment. Museum. As exterior and interior excellence in biomedicine. The many thousands of people who have in 1998 to reflect its development as a > educational publications, > A commitment to best practice in spaces reach completion the building exhibition Body Parts explores the migrated to our shores and is proving to be multi-campus educational and cultural > commercial venue hire and creative uses of new technologies to reveals itself to be a vibrant and nature of reproduction in an objective a venue much valued by those personally institution for the people of Victoria and retail outlets, enhance the accessibility, dynamic venue able to showcase the and factual manner, providing our affected by the migration experience, 4 visitors from interstate and overseas. > professional photographic services understanding and value of Museum very best of our collection, and provide young audiences with a welcoming as well as by the wider community. The 5 and an extensive image library, Victoria’s activities for a local and for an enormous variety of experiences environment in which to learn. There Hellenic Antiquities Museum has been a CAMPUSES AND FACILITIES > mentor programs, worldwide audience. in its wonderful public spaces. will be access to knowledge of how wonderful example of the merit of cultural Museum Victoria operates or is > collections tours, and > The provision of leadership in the the systems of the body function and exchanges, in this case between the developing the following. > tertiary student supervision. museum industry in Victoria, and in Emphasis this year has been on the importance of genetics in health Victorian and Greek Governments. > Melbourne Museum – opening in museums generally. consolidation of the conceptual work and ideas will be explained. October 2000. VISION that has gone into the establishment of The role of the Board has grown since > Immigration Museum and Hellenic Museum Victoria will be recognised OPERATING PRINCIPLES exhibitions for the Melbourne Museum. > Australian Society: The Australia Gallery it became the employer of the staff of Antiquities Museum. throughout Australia and the world for The following principles will guide the Program content has been rigorously explores people and the communities Museum Victoria in 1998. It values the 1999 - 2000 > Scienceworks Museum – including the way in which it engages the public activities of Museum Victoria. established to serve as an educational and they live in, providing historical and committed and talented staff. As a matter the Melbourne Planetarium. and stimulates the quest for knowledge > We are mission driven and entertainment tool and provide visitors with contemporary perspectives. Melbourne: of priority, it established a wide range of > Royal Exhibition Building – historic through the vitality of its public programs. commercially positive. the opportunity to be involved at the level Stories from a City is an exploration human resources policies ensuring a commercial and civic events venue, > We are customer focused. appropriate to their particular background of the history of our city, its people, thorough and appropriate framework that with basement collection store. MISSION > We value our collections and the and needs. An enormous amount of neighbourhoods, workplaces and supports all staff. The Board continues to > Moreland Annexe and Melbourne The Mission of Museum Victoria is knowledge that makes them detailed development has gone into cultures. Windows on Victoria presents have a major role in strategic planning and in annual annual report museums museums board victoria of Museum – main collection stores to improve understanding of ourselves meaningful. producing an exciting range of exhibitions. key themes and events in Victoria’s ensuring that the programs of Museum supplemented by several and the world in which we live through > We encourage lifelong learning. history, through the interweaving of Victoria effectively serve the needs of temporary stores. the interpretation of collections and the > We support intercultural > Indigenous Cultures: Bunjilaka the private lives and larger historical events. the community. knowledge that makes them meaningful. understanding and reconciliation. Museum’s Aboriginal centre, is a Phar Lap has an honoured place in AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS > We value and respect each place for cultural activities, exhibitions, this gallery. The Board acknowledges and values > National Wool Museum Museum Victoria will engage the public other’s contributions. performances and special events, the strong and imaginative leadership with programs that explore: where histories and cultures can be > The Big Box Gallery, Children’s of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr George SERVICES > the origins, development and STRATEGIC PRIORITIES shared and respected between Museum, presents information on MacDonald. One of his many valuable Museum Victoria provides a wide range diversity of culture of the Australian For the next five years the strategic Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. growing in a playful way, appealing to contributions has been establishing the of services and products including: people and their region; and priorities of Museum Victoria are: Koori