Australian 1Museum ANNUAL REPORT 1999/2000 To the Hon. Bob Carr MP Premier, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Citizenship Sir, In accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, we have pleasure in submitting this report of the activities of the Australian Museum Trust for the financial year ended 30 June 2000 for presentation to Parliament. On behalf of the Australian Museum Trust, Mr Malcolm Long Professor Michael Archer President of the Trust Secretary of the Trust Australian Museum 6 College Street Sydney 2010 www.austmus.gov.au Telephone: (02) 9320 6000 Facsimile: (02) 9320 6050 Email: [email protected] Open 7 days a week (except Christmas Day) 9.30 am to 5.00 pm Admission Charges Family $19; child $3; adult $8; concession $4; seniors card holders, TAMS members and children under 5 free Contents Mission 2 Values 2 Objectives 2 President’s Message 3 Director’s Message 4 Corporate Strategies 6 Access 6 The Physical Experience 8 Virtual Access 9 Science 2020 10 Financial Statements 12 Appendices 27 Index 41 2 Mission Our Mission is to increase understanding of, and influence public debate on, the natural environment, human societies and human interaction with the environment. Values Success in achieving our Mission requires that we work in ways which embody values that are important to us and to the people who work in and use the Museum and its services. These values guide the way we implement strategies and, in some cases, are the values we wish our audiences to share with us. People: People are at the centre of everything we do. We respect and respond to the knowledge and experiences people bring to us, and will be responsive to their needs. Excited Minds: We are committed to providing experiences that excite and stimulate people into finding out more, taking action or thinking further about their world, and for them to be in control of these interactions. Communities: We are committed to developing mutually beneficial partnerships with communities. Continuous Improvement: We will strive to create our own future, based in part on knowledge of and learning from what we are doing today. We respect constructive criticism so that we can learn to do things better. Diversity: We respect diversity of opinion in our workplace as we work towards achieving our shared goals. This means we share information and beat down ‘territorialism’ wherever it might occur. Excellence: We value excellence in scholarship, communication, research and management. The excellence of our research and scholarship, the new ideas we present and the ways we present them are vitally important to our success. Innovation: We will encourage risk-taking, innovation and experimentation to improve the ways we communicate with and engage people. The Natural and Cultural Environment: Australia’s environmental and cultural diversity is extremely important to us and we will seek to increase our knowledge of and respect for it and share our understanding with others. Cultural Respect: We will respect the rights and wishes of the peoples whose knowledge and material culture form the basis of our human-studies programs. Objectives The Museum’s objectives are derived from our Mission and our Values. In looking to our future, we must work towards: • extending the influence of our research and new understandings of the world on current audiences and interest groups by being more aware of, and responsive to, user needs; • raising awareness of the Museum and our role in communicating and influencing debate on environmental and cultural issues through research and knowledge; and • extending our reach in current and new audiences using innovative and user-responsive approaches to providing services. President’s Message 3 The past year has seen the beginnings of some major museum can become involved with. Many of these have structural changes for the Australian Museum, which involved collaborations with community groups, other should lead to long-term gains for the Museum and the government institutions, universities, the corporate people of Sydney, New South Wales and beyond. With the sector and international partnerships. The NSW use of new technology to reach, excite and enthuse people Government has provided the necessary funding and about the Australian Museum and Australia’s support for the Museum to continue to grow, for which environment, heritage and culture, we are increasingly we are extremely grateful. But the Museum should also be becoming a ‘global’ museum anchored here in New South proactive in seeking funds for its future and not rely solely Wales, and the Olympic Games can only strengthen this on government. role. This role, and the means to achieve it, is central to The Director’s Message outlines many achievements. our deliberations about the future of the Australian The fact that these have been done in a period of change Museum. is a great credit to all involved. In this regard, I would like While these management and financial reforms are to give a special thanks to my fellow Trust members who taking place to secure our long-term future, it is contributed throughout the year. I would also like to inevitable that there will be some difficult periods of mention the contribution over the years of Lucy Hughes- change in the short term. However, if we are to move Turnbull who was unable to continue as a Trustee due to forward, we need a solid base from which to build and other commitments. Her contribution was significant we must plan our resources accordingly. There are many and, as a friend of the Museum, she will continue to assist projects the Museum could become involved with, but in the future. The Trust was fortunate to have two new there is a need to prioritise and to ensure that those members in Andrew Roberts and Julianna Walton, both of things that we do, we do well. whom have already become deeply involved in working for The major focus for the Trust and for the staff of the our future. Museum in the years to come will undoubtedly be the As we move forward there is also the need to acknowledge future of the Australian Museum, and the shape and form the contribution of all the staff of, and individuals of the ‘new Australian Museum’. With the new National associated with, the Australian Museum. The fact that Museum of Australia in Canberra, the new Museum of so much has been achieved is a great credit to them all. Victoria and other major museum developments in other Special mention must be made of the infectious capital cities, the time is ripe for the Australian Museum enthusiasm of the Director, Professor Michael Archer. to project into the future its own role, particularly in While looking forward to shaping the future of the those areas of the Museum’s unique expertise and world Museum, he recognises the importance of learning from standing. The fact that the Government has recognised the Museum’s past history to understand where we are this in its policy statements and through the provision today and where we might usefully go in the future. of funding for planning a ‘new Australian Museum’ This perspective through time is central to Mike’s own means that the Trust and Museum staff have an research work and in many ways encapsulates what the opportunity to shape the future of the Australian Museum has been, is now and has the potential to be. Museum for the 21st century. Malcolm Long It is significant that the planning for the new Museum will be under way in 2001 when we celebrate the Centenary of Federation. We are no longer a colony and the Museum’s impact stretches well beyond the dotted lines drawn on a map that indicate a border with another State. Our welfare in this community is now interdependent with enlightened environmental policy elsewhere too. From our NSW home, we therefore need to consider our contribution in Australian and regional terms and beyond. Since its genesis back in the fairly early days of the Colony of New South Wales, the Australian Museum has been equated with the magnificent heritage building on College Street. Exploring the nexus between the Australian Museum and College Street, which the Museum has begun to do, is probably the most significant event in the history of the Museum. This building will be part of the future but at this stage it is too early to determine its precise role. However, whatever transpires, the fact remains that there is an urgent need for work to be done to the whole site, to provide better conditions for both the staff who work here and the public who visit. In planning for the future we also need to think beyond the physical boundaries of a city block in the CBD of Sydney, and the range of projects initiated this year are indicative of the types of projects that a modern-day 4 Director’s Message The Australian Museum has had a uniquely challenging The Museum has also embarked on a coordinated year. Not all of the challenges have been easy to meet and restructuring of its senior management to better facilitate many have required extraordinary inputs from the Trust, its services to its many stakeholders. During the year, the staff and friends of the Australian Museum. In meeting framework for a Service Strategy was developed, as were these challenges, we have been significantly assisted by many new initiatives that will increase the efficiency of the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the NSW Premier’s operations in the Financial and Corporate Services areas.