06/06/2026
The new exhibition at the ANU which is a joint venture with the Hall Heritage Centre.
Back to the future ……
I visited a cousin in a retirement home this afternoon and we had a lot to catch up on, as well as trying to solve the problems facing the world at the moment.
Our conversation moved from docos on SBS, to populism in current day politics and eventually to reminiscing about our childhood. We shared memories, laughed at recalled trivia and earnestly discussed why we had made the decisions we had and how the consequences of those choices shaped our lives. We talked about our children and grandchildren and what their world was like, what the future might hold for these next generations. At one point, my cousin pensively commented, “every one of us has a story that will probably not be told, but it is our story, our life and surely it is worth remembering”.
This afternoon visit was the ideal preparation for my evening commitment to attend the opening of an exhibition presented by the Centre of Heritage and Museum Studies at the ANU.
Most of us when we think of museums and exhibitions, expect to see ‘stuff’ that is old, (perhaps precious and rare), but often dull, aged and even rusty. Manuscripts and documents glorified in tv programmes like ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, catch our attention briefly and our interest is fleeting. But this evening’s offering within the School of Archaeology and Anthropology threw a new light on a history display usually curated to appeal to the experts.
The exhibition theme was ‘Fighting for the future of our past’ and it showcased the efforts and commitment behind the successful running of a small regional museum and history centre. The centre’s struggle to preserve the old bush school in the rural village of Hall and build it up to be a thriving, modern-day campus, recognising the importance of history in our daily lives, was the raison d’être for the organisation’s creation, the motivation for its continuity and the inspiration for an exhibition to tell its story.
Guests this evening were welcomed to the Sir Roland Wilson building at the ANU by Course Co-ordinator Isa Menzies and she proudly introduced the Masters Degree students who curated the Exhibition. Phil Robson from the Hall Heritage Centre responded and outlined the collaborative effort that was undertaken by the university and the museum. He highlighted the scope of the project that extended from the ancient stories of First Nations peoples through early pioneering settlement to mid-century development and the ultimate creation of Canberra as the Nation’s capital. He acknowledged that sharing the past was vital for an understanding of our future.
The exhibition was officially opened by Dr Mathew Trinca and he spoke of the “mosaic that is created by the individual and community stories that make up our collective histories”. He emphasised the importance in preserving those stories through shared research and community cooperation.
The surprise of the evening was the content of the Exhibition. Yes it went beyond artefacts of interest - the small bell from the Cricketer’s Arms Hotel, the blacksmith’s ledger and the ancient stone hatchet; it meandered past photos that revealed century-old records through hazy, grained images; it navigated timelines that gave us accurate dates and held our attention with thought-provoking graphics that reminded us of heritage lost. More importantly it took us into the world of why and how committed volunteers, from diverse backgrounds, with different qualifications and talents, can come together to research, conserve and keep our history alive for future generations.
But the beating heart of the Exhibition was the story of the hard, but ultimately successful, fight to preserve an old schoolhouse, which in turn led to the establishment of a community museum of national significance.
The story boards that welcomed visitors all started with individual quotes from the volunteers at Hall, sound added their voices and a delightful video gave us the personal dimension that explained why these volunteers do what they do.
Aptly titled, ‘Voices from the Schoolhouse - fighting for the future of our past’ this collaboration between the ANU and the Hall Heritage Centre is an exhibition well worth a visit. Open till 28 June 2026 in the Sir Roland Wilson Building.
