Old Museum Building, Brisbane

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The Old Museum building is in Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia.

The Old Museum was originally called the Exhibition Building and Concert Hall. It was built in 1891 for the Queensland National Agricultural and Industrial Association after Brisbane's first exhibition building, which had occupied the land, was destroyed by fire in 1887. The land had been used by the Acclimatisation Society of Queensland from 1863-1875.

The new exhibition building was designed by the architect George Henry Male Addison (1857-1922). The style of the building may best be described as progressive eclecticism. It is entered in the Queensland Heritage Register.

The Queensland Government took over control of the building and grounds when the National Association was forced into liquidation by the economic depression in 1897.

In 1899, the Exhibition Hall became home to the Queensland Museum, with the museum remaining in the building until the museum's relocation to the Queensland Cultural Centre in 1986. During the Queensland Museum's 86 years in the building, other parts of the building were used as a Concert Hall and an Art Gallery. Because of the Queensland Museum's long occupancy of the building, the building is now known as the Old Museum.

The Old Museum building is home to the Queensland Youth Orchestras, which regularly hold concerts in the building. The building is currently undergoing restorative renovations, but most of the building is accessible. The building is also home for the Queensland Youth Choir, Queensland Rhythmic Gymnastics Organisation, Queensland Police Pipes and Drums and the Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre Company.

The Old Museum is also home to The Kelvin Grove Wind Orchestra, an incorporated community based orchestra of more than 60 dedicated musicians of all ages and from all walks of life. The KGWO plays a varied repertoire, serious symphonic band, well known classical and contemporary works, and popular pieces.

Enquiries for Venue Hire can be made by contacting the Venue Manager at oldmuseum@qyo.org.au.

The play, "Troilus and Cressida", by William Shakespeare, was also presented in the Old Museum building in 1989. Members of the cast included Geoffrey Rush and Jane Menelaus.

The Old Museum building was also used as one of the sites for the 1980s Australian series of Mission: Impossible.

[edit] Photographs of the Old Museum

[edit] External links