Museum Revealed: Recent Episodes
Queensland Museum Network
We're revealing some of the hidden gems and stories from the Queensland Museum Network Collection. Listen as our expert curators wax lyrical with some amazing tales from the field, hidden surprises from the collection and much more covering topics including biodiversity, cultures and histories, geosciences, science and technology.
Did you know more than 1.2 million objects and specimens make up the State Collection that tells the changing story of Queensland, Australia? We’re here to inspire curiosity to connect the past, make sense of the present and help navigate the future.
Music is significant to all cultures across history. The breadth of the 830 traditional musical instruments that make up Marson Collection demonstrates the wide diversity of ways in which different cultures have made music. You’re listening to part two of Marson Collection Revealed. Discover more fascinating details of this significant collection with me, Laura Cantrell, museum graphic designer and sometimes podcast host and Queensland Museum Anthropology Collection Manager Karen Kindt.
What is the Marson Collection? In 2002 Charles and Kati Marson donated more than 800 musical instruments to Queensland Museum in partnership with the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. This unique collection was donated with the intention that the instruments would be available to be accessed and played by musicians with the appropriate knowledge.
CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
From celebrations to break-ups, good times to sad times, there’s no doubt music is a major part of our lives. Music is a form of self-expression, and something that we as humans can all relate and connect to on an emotional level.
Over two episodes we are going to reveal a special “living” collection which consists of 830 traditional musical instruments from around the world. So join me, Laura Cantrell, museum graphic designer and sometimes podcast host, as we take a musical journey through the Marson Collection with museum honorary Dr Kirsty Gillespie.
What is the Marson Collection? In 2002 Charles and Kati Marson donated more than 800 musical instruments to Queensland Museum in partnership with the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University. This unique collection was donated with the intention that the instruments would be available to be accessed and played by musicians with the appropriate knowledge.
CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell ‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
Imagine you’re a scientist, diving into the freezing cold waters of the Antarctic. You’re not there to observe the larger organisms so closely associated with that part of the world - whales, seals and impossibly cute penguins - but the smallest: the marine invertebrates. What is it about these lesser-known creatures, the ones we rarely think of, that would entice you into those icy waters? What are the impacts of climate change on these ocean creatures? Have you ever heard of ocean acidification?
Dr Sue-Ann Watson, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates at Queensland Museum Network and senior research fellow at James Cook University, joins us to chat about her fascinating work.
CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell ‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
Because some of them bite, sting or pass on life-threatening diseases, lurk in our kitchens at night, or eat our garden plants, not to mention occasionally decimate our food crops, insects tend to get a bad rap. But that’s not really fair. If they didn’t exist, nor would we. In fact, because of our existence, theirs is under threat. And perhaps this AMAZINGLY diverse class of creatures can show us the impact we are having on the planet. There are scientists out there trying to do just that - and they could use a little help from you.One of those scientists is Queensland Museum Network’s Dr Chris Burwell, Senior Curator of Insects. He’s got an encyclopaedic knowledge of insects that he’s going to share with you!
We may be biased, but at Queensland Museum Network we reckon we’ve got one of the best science centre’s in Australia! SparkLab, at Queensland Museum, has awesome interactive exhibits, live science experiments and investigations and a Maker Space – but perhaps best of all, learning officers who have science and education expertise and make it their mission to get you playing, questioning and testing your ideas while having the most fun possible. Rebekah Collins is one of the creators of SparkLab and there is no-one better to give you and me – Laura Cantrell, museum graphic designer and part-time podcast host – the inside word on our SparkLab experience.CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell ‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
Hop aboard the Museum Revealed Podcast Express to the Queensland Museum Network’s Ipswich campus: The Workshops Rail Museum. Somewhere amongst the network’s biggest and heaviest collection items you’ll find Curator, Rob Shiels. Like the museum itself, Rob isn’t just about trains, so come along for the ride… you never know where he might take us!CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
Let’s start with an undeniable fact: Queensland is a big state. From Texas in the south to the Torres Strait 3000 kilometres to the north, from Fraser Island on the east coast to Camooweal in the far west. How does a state museum make sure that people who’d have to travel by plane or four-wheel drive vehicle - or both - to visit on one of its museums, can benefit like everyone else?Digital technology certainly helps but Queensland Museum Network in conjunction with Arts Queensland have been running a program for over 20 years that gives people all across the state an opportunity to access museum expertise face-to-face.Do you have a story to tell? Or do you need a grant, advice or training? You need a Museum Development Officer.CREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell ‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
Tape worms. Ticks. Head lice. The thought is enough to make you squirm, flinch and scratch. Yes, we’re talking about parasites! Most parasites are tiny; you’ll need a magnifying glass handy to see them.Dr Terry Miller, parasitologist and Queensland Museum Network’s Head of Biodiversity and Geosciences reveals more about this interesting, and often unpleasant group of organisms, as well as his role and research happening at the museum.
There’s a good chance that as you listen to this podcast you’re sitting on a mass-produced piece of furniture - not that there’s anything wrong with that! But what if you could learn the skills to make your own?Andrew MacDonald could teach you. He’s the Factory Supervisor at Cobb+Co Museum, our Toowoomba campus, where talented and knowledgeable people like Andy are keeping traditional trades and crafts alive. Find out how he does it and why it’s so important to keep the trade alive.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.auCREDITSHost: Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
There’s a group of unsung heroes in the museum world who work harder than anyone to bring the knowledge and vision of the curators and scientists to life in a way that excites and inspires you. We’re talking about the designers!Queensland Museum’s Senior Exhibition Designer Alison Ross gives us exclusive insight into her role at the museum, a day in the life of a designer and the challenges that come along with this interesting job. Discover how her background as a stenographer influences museum exhibition design and find out what her favourite project to date is… you might have seen it on display recently.Host: Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
How did such a large ship and experienced crew come to be wrecked? What is the full story of HMS Pandora that now lies at the bottom of the ocean? These are some of the questions Maritime and underwater archaeologists work to answer. So no, archaeology isn’t just digging up old objects from the ground!Dr Maddy McAllister, Senior Curator for Maritime Archaeology at Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville reveals what it’s like to work on these incredible shipwrecks and some of the challenges faced… including sharks!View the show notes and transcript. Host: Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media: @qldmuseumVisit our website: https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/
He’s travelled from Norway, to the Arctic to the USA and Australia and a few million years into the past to discover ancient life. Dr Espen Knutsen returns to the present day (and the Museum Revealed podcast) to share more tales of life as a palaeontologist.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Kylie Hay‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
In 2020, we donned our KN-95 face masks, hand sanitised thoroughly for thirty seconds and headed out into the world (subject to travel restrictions, of course) to collect objects that will exemplify our lives during the global pandemic. Judith Hickson, Senior Curator of Social History is here to gives us an exclusive insight into contemporary collecting for the museum.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Did you know molluscs are ancient creatures? They’ve been around for half a billion years! From snails to squids, Collection Manager of Molluscs, Darry Potter takes us through this enormously diverse group of animals.
Proceeds of crime. Bone boilers. Unicorns of the ocean. And poo. A conversation with Heather Janetzki, Collection Manager of Mammals and Birds at Queensland Museum Network, always reveals something interesting. Don’t miss this one — you’ll have a whale of a time! Pun intended.Read the show notes here. Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Museum Revealed takes you on a horse-drawn coach ride up into the Great Dividing Range to talk with Jeff Powell, Curator at Cobb+Co Museum in Toowoomba. Bring a well-padded cushion and keep an eye out for bush rangers!Read the show notes here.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Dr Robert Raven really knows spiders. You should launch into this faster than a Funnel-web onto a vegetarian millipede.Read the show notes here. Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Kylie Hay‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Turn off Married at First Sight: we’ve got the best real-life wedding stories right here! Sweet and bittersweet tales from couples of all kinds and cultures told through the wedding garments they wore with Assistant Curator of Social History, Carmen Burton.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Dr Espen Knutsen is living your childhood dream. Give up your day job for 19 minutes and search for fossilised remains from the ancient past with Espen, Senior Curator of Palaeontology.Read the show notes here.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Kylie Hay and Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Sneak past the security doors and into the bookworm’s paradise that is the Queensland Museum Network Rare Book Collection with Librarian Shannon Robinson. If you haven’t head of John Gould's The Birds of Australia publication, you will have after this!Read the show notes here. CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.
Did you know that crabs have blue blood? Enjoy nineteen minutes of zoological fascination with Dr Marissa McNamara, Collection Manager of Crustacea on crabs and other (scientifically) delectable crustaceans. You’ll want to come back for seconds!Read the show notes here.Follow us on social media at @qldmuseum.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
Meet the metal beasts that helped build Queensland! From crawler tractors to locomotives, Jen High, Senior Curator of Transport, Energy and Science will introduce you to the (very big) stars of the Might and Muscle exhibit at The Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich.Read the show notes here.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement and disclaimer voiced by Kylie Hay‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
From a First World War battlefield to Brisbane: hear the story of how the sole surviving German A7V Sturmpanzerwagen tank named Mephisto made a very unexpected journey to the other side of the world from Nick Hadnutt, Curator of Archaeology. Now that the general public are no longer able to climb inside (much to the relief of our Workplace Health and Safety Officer) this is your best chance to get to know Mephisto inside and out! Don’t forget you can see this unique and rare tank in the Anzac Legacy Gallery at Queensland Museum.Read the show notes here.CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Laura Cantrell‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.
CARNIVOROUS. SPONGES. Need we say more!? Dr Merrick Ekins, Collection Manager of Sessile Marine Invertebrates chats about searching for carnivorous sponges deep under the sea, and his Moreton Bay dugong adventures.Read the show notes here. CREDITSHost: Dr Rob BellProducers: Rebecca Ruhle, Jaclyn McTaggart, Christine RobertsonAdvertisement voiced by Kylie Hay‘Stories and Mysteries’ written and played by Darryl Potter and recorded by Kim Sewell.