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.

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
José Coelho is farewelled by his teaching colleagues in Ponta do Sol, Madeira, prior to his departure for Australia, 1956.

28 Sep 2019

Love and sacrifice: From Madeira Island to the Snowy Mountains
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
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
Watercolour of Port Adelaide, South Australia, by Samuel Thomas Gill, 1840s. Rex Nan Kivell Collection, National Library of Australia

27 Aug 2019

A worker in tulle: The English lacemakers of Calais
Annarosa Coluccio (third from left) with her parents (left) and mother-in-law (fourth from left) at her proxy marriage in Roccella Jonica, Calabria, Italy, 1956. Reproduced courtesy Isabella Coluccio

22 Aug 2019

Until we meet again: An Italian proxy bride's story
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
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
Postcard depicting a painting of the mutineers turning Lieutenant Bligh adrift from the Bounty, before 1816, ANMM Collection Gift from Rhonda Coleman, ANMS1140[037]

14 Jun 2019

A mutiny and a mystery