Discover stories behind the latest exhibitions, fascinating explorations into maritime science and archaeology, and the surprising details of what happens inside (and outside) a modern working museum.

Jeffrey Fox working on the cameo medallion of Sir Joseph Banks

08 Oct 2019

Bligh and Banks: Preserving a piece of history
The Observatory, Point Venus, Otahytey [Tahiti], George Tobin, 1792. State Library of New South Wales (FL1606978)

29 Sep 2019

Bligh and the peoples of the Pacific: The Polynesian threads in European stories
Bligh - Hero or Villain? Manipulated Portrait of Rea-Admiral William Bligh. Courtesy of National Library of Australia.

14 Sep 2019

'A bully and a bastard's bastard': Peter FitzSimons on William Bligh
Dr Vanessa Pirotta (second version)

12 Sep 2019

Whales and wonder with Dr Vanessa Pirotta
Plate 19 from  a catalogue of the rare and valuable shells which formed the celebrated collection of the late Mrs Bligh

29 Aug 2019

A sign of love: Elizabeth Bligh's shell collection
lighthouse

23 Aug 2019

Blackbirding: Australia's slave trade?
Conservator Katie Wood using tweezers to place tiny pieces of Japanese tissue paper to repair the tear across the horizontal fold line

02 Aug 2019

Repairing the Past: Shining a light on Frances Bligh's letter
Arctic puffins, Svalbard. Image Michael Aw

25 Jul 2019

Elysium Arctic: Artists for social change
Bligh - Hero or Villain? Manipulated Portrait of Rea-Admiral William Bligh. Courtesy of National Library of Australia.

17 Jul 2019

Bad Reputation: William Bligh in Popular Culture