MUSEUMS BOARD OF VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT O6O7 2 President’s Message 52 Strategic Direction Four: Contents 3 Chief Executive Offi cer’s Message Develop and Maximise the Value of Our Heritage Collections 4 Profi le of Museum Victoria 53 Performance Overview 6 The Year in Brief 54 History and Technology 7 Awards 55 Indigenous Cultures 8 Highlights of the Year 56 Sciences 11 Vision 57 Collections 12 Values 58 Case Study: Biggest Family Album 13 Outcomes 14 Strategic Directions 62 Strategic Direction Five: 15 Future Priorities Manage Our Resources 63 Performance Overview 16 Strategic Direction One: 64 Corporate Activities Enhance Access, Visibility 69 Corporate Governance and Community Engagement 70 Museums Board of Victoria 17 Performance Overview 74 Executive Management Team 18 Profi le 76 Organisational Structure 18 Online Publishing 78 Case Study: Corporate 19 Discovery Centres Training Program 19 Community Engagement 21 Education 82 Financial Statements 22 Case Study: Discovering 82 Introduction Science at the Museum 83 Financial Statements 94 Auditor General Report 26 Strategic Direction Two: 96 Financial Review of Operations Create and Deliver Great and Financial Condition Experiences 27 Performance Overview 97 Disclosure Index 28 Immigration Museum 30 Scienceworks 98 Additional Information 32 Melbourne Museum 98 Temporary Exhibitions 34 IMAX 99 Externally Funded Projects 35 Royal Exhibition Building 100 Research Supervision 36 Museum Victoria Touring Exhibitions 102 Research Publications 38 Case Study: Backyard Bug Circus 105 Lectures and Presentations 110 Freedom of Information 42 Strategic Direction Three: 111 Information Privacy Pursue the Development 111 Legislative Changes of Strategic Partnerships 111 Public Sector Values 43 Performance Overview and Employment Principles 44 Partnerships 111 Cultural Diversity Statement 45 Museum Victoria Supporters 111 National Competition Policy 48 Case Study: Fossil Finds 111 Victorian Industry Participation Policy 111 Consultancies 112 Building and Maintenance Compliance 112 The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 118 Fees and Charges On behalf of the Museums Board targets families from disadvantaged President’s of Victoria, I am delighted to present communities and runs programs that aim Message the 2006–07 annual report, detailing to increase their science literacy through Museum Victoria’s operations and family-based learning. In 2007–08, achievements over the last 12 months. Museum Victoria will deliver training This year we celebrate the leadership in the program to other museums shown by Museum Victoria, and I throughout Australia. congratulate the Executive Management Partnerships with the Victorian Team and all staff for their signifi cant Government through Arts Victoria and contributions in 2006–07. other agencies continued to be essential Museum Victoria enjoyed a very to the success of our organisation. successful year, with Melbourne Museum My appreciation is also extended to our attracting its highest attendance fi gures corporate and philanthropic supporters. ever. Scienceworks continued to be a Their generous support enables Museum favourite destination for families, achieving Victoria to demonstrate excellence in the record attendances over the summer delivery of exhibitions, public programs school holiday period. Scienceworks and research outcomes. also welcomed its fi ve millionth visitor I would like to acknowledge the in April 2007. The Immigration Museum signifi cant contributions made by the received a Victorian Tourism Award in the individuals who support Museum Victoria’s Heritage and Cultural Tourism category operations. This year two new members for the fourth year in a row. joined the Museums Board of Victoria: Museum Victoria is constantly seeking Dr Gaye Sculthorpe and Mr Tim Sullivan. new ways to extend its reach into the I look forward to working with them on community. As an example of this reach, the Board and appreciate the commitment the Museum Victoria website continues that they have made to Museum Victoria to attract new audiences, recording 4.5 through their roles on the Aboriginal million user sessions during 2006–07. Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee This is an increase of one million from and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. 2005–06. During the year, the stunning I would especially like to thank the Caught and Coloured: Zoological Minister for the Arts, Lynne Kosky MP, Illustrations from Colonial Victoria website for her support, my fellow members received three awards, including the of the Museums Board of Victoria, and inaugural McFarlane Prize for Excellence the staff, whose expertise and passion in Australian Web Design. has enabled Museum Victoria to become In 2006–07, the museum piloted a leader in its fi eld. a new project, Discovering Science at the Museum, with an Innovative Project grant from the Department of Education, Science and Training’s National Adult Literacy Program. The project, which Harold Mitchell AO has been developed by Museum Victoria, President, Museums Board of Victoria Museum Victoria is the most visited palaeontologists are collaborating with Chief museum organisation in Australia, the North University of Alaska to retrieve Executive with almost 1.5 million visitors in polar dinosaurs from the permafrost 2006–07. In addition to this, more on the North Slope in order to compare Offi cer’s than 4.5 million people visited the them with those known from Victoria. Message Museum Victoria website or engaged Work commenced on the Integrated with the Discovery Program during Arts Agencies Storage Facility, converting the year. an open-plan warehouse for the storage Many of Museum Victoria’s achieve- of non-collection material held by ments in 2006-07 were the result Museum Victoria, the Australian Centre of strong partnerships created with for the Moving Image, the National government, community, cultural and Gallery of Victoria and the Victorian Arts research organisations. Centre Trust. The project is being led Five exhibitions developed by by Museum Victoria, with the State Museum Victoria in collaboration with Government as a funding partner for other museums and cultural organisations this fi rst phrase. toured throughout Australia and New The State Government has also Zealand during 2006–07. These included supported the Museum Victoria’s long- Colliding Worlds, which tells the story term exhibition renewal program. The of the Pintupi people’s fi rst episodes of redeveloped Leaving Home Gallery was contact with Europeans, and Twined launched at the Immigration Museum Together, showcasing contemporary in 2006–07, and the innovative Welcome and historical fi brework from western Map display was installed in the Arnhem Land. The Virtual Room, Melbourne Museum foyer. Work has developed in conjunction with Swinburne progressed well on two major projects University, toured to France, Singapore, that will be launched during 2007–08, New Zealand and Italy. the Mind: Enter the Labyrinth and Story The museum’s leadership in building of Melbourne exhibitions. community partnerships was recognised The achievements of Museum at the 2006 Victorian Arts Portfolio Victoria throughout the year are also Leadership Awards, with awards received due to the efforts of the Board, staff, for the Celebration of the 150th volunteers and supporters. I would like Anniversary of the Eight Hour Day, to thank everyone for their contribution and the Women on Farms Gathering to the excellent results we have enjoyed Heritage projects. over the past 12 months. It is essential, in Partnerships are also one of the keys order to maintain this level of excellence, to Museum Victoria’s research success. that we continue to invest in our Museum Victoria received two Australian museums for the future. Research Council (ARC) grants in 2006– 07, and was listed as a partner in another eight ARC grants that were awarded funding. One of the fi eld projects that Museum Victoria undertook during Dr J. Patrick Greene the year was in Alaska, where museum Chief Executive Offi cer MUSEUMS BOARD OF VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2OO6–O7 2 3 Profi le of Museum Victoria is Australia’s largest public Museum museum organisation. Victoria As the state museum for Victoria, it is responsible for looking after the state’s collection of more than 16 million items, conducting research and providing cultural and science programs for the people of Victoria and visitors from interstate and overseas. Museum Victoria’s origins date back to 1854, with the founding of the National Museum of Victoria and the establishment, in 1870, of the Industrial and Technological Museum of Victoria (later known as the Science Museum of Victoria). By proclamation of the Museums Act 1983 (Vic.), these two institutions were amalgamated to form what is today known as Museum Victoria, governed by the Museums Board of Victoria. Museum Victoria operates three museums and a collections storage facility, and is custodian for the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. IMMIGRATIONMUSEUM Opened 12 November 1998 The Immigration Museum is one of the world’s leading social history museums, and is situated in the Old Customs House on Flinders Street. It explores issues of immigration and cultural diversity. MELBOURNEMUSEUM Opened 21 October 2000 The iconic Melbourne Museum stands adjacent to the historic Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens. Melbourne Museum showcases Australian society, Indigenous cultures, the human mind and body, science and technology and the environment. Museum Victoria also operates