Annual Report-2000-2001 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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of Devils Lair at over 48,000 years. This is an important
contribution to the debate about the timing of human
settlement of Australia.
Moya Smith presented a paper in the ‘Indigenous
Exhibitions’ session at the Museums Australia
Conference in Canberra.
History
The opening of the new gallery Western Australia:
Land and People in March 2001 represented the
culmination of several years’ intense research and
development effort by the History Department. This
exhibition, generously funded by the Lotteries
Commission of Western Australia, has successfully
combined every facet of the Museum’s broad
expertise in a display covering more than 700 square
metres detailing the environmental and cultural
history of this State.
History and Exhibition and Design staff worked closely
throughout the design and installation phases of this
gallery. It is the most ambitious single exhibition
project undertaken and completed by the Museum
to date. Mathew Trinca, Sue Graham-Taylor, Wendy
Bradshaw, Phyl Brown and Anna Haebich, led by
Head of Department Ann Delroy, played a pivotal
role, developing content for the gallery and
coordinating the contributions of colleagues in other
research areas. They also developed and supervised
the multimedia programs and interactive displays that
are central elements of the exhibition experience.
Western Australia: Land and People uses interactive
multimedia technology to provide additional
interpretive, contextual information to enhance the
visitor experience. Seven touch-screens are used at
locations within the exhibition, some providing more
detailed information on topics covered only briefly
in the exhibition. In ‘Yellagonga’s People’, for instance,
the viewer may access information about some
Western Australian Museum Annual Report 2000–2001
Western Australian Museum–
Science and Culture
members of what early colonists described as
‘Yellagonga’s tribe’. ‘Living with the Land’ provides
the Noongar names for the plants and animals eaten
by Noongar people in the South-West and details of
how the foods were hunted, gathered and prepared
for eating. Other interactive displays, such as ‘Living
in the City’, ‘Naming the Country’ and ‘Timber Terms’,
challenge the visitor to respond to questions related
to their knowledge of a particular subject.
Public response to the gallery has been extraordinary,
with significantly increased visitor numbers.
Qualitative feedback from visitors has been very
complimentary, with many people moved to
congratulate the Museum through visitor feedback
forms and personal notes. The gallery has also
attracted praise and support from government and
other organisations and agencies.
A major catalogue for the gallery, to be published
later in 2001, is in preparation. This volume is aimed
at a general audience, but also engages with
elements of the primary and secondary school
curricula in relevant areas. The department has also
maximised opportunities to produce associated
products and merchandise, including postcards,
reproductions and other items.
Led by Ann Delroy, the department researched and
developed an on-line version of the Western Australia:
Land and People gallery, to be hosted on the
Museum’s web site later this year. This is an important
element in the Museum’s commitment to deliver its
programs to remote and isolated audiences.
The department worked closely with the Education
Section, especially Kate Akerman and Sue King, in
developing education support materials for the
exhibition. Three packages, one for primary schools
and two for secondary schools, are nearing
completion and will be sold on a cost-recovery basis
to schools and teachers. Elements of these packages