Phar Lap's abnormally large heart, weighing 6.2 kilograms (the average for a horse is 4.0 kilograms), is a popular object in the National Historical Collection - testimony to the great affection in which Phar Lap was, and still is, held by the Australian people. The heart is on display in the Nation: Symbols of Australia exhibition.
National Museum of Australia
Opening as the flagship for Centenary of Federation celebrations, the National Museum is the first in the country devoted to the stories of Australia and Australians, exploring the key issues, events and people that have shaped and influenced our nation. Rare and fascinating objects which illustrate the complex origins of the Australian continent and nation have been collected for the past 20 years and are the focus for the Museum's wide range of stoires and exhibitions. State of the art technology and exhibition design present these stories in an exciting and inventive manner, including the use of muti-media, live performances and hands-on activities, to appeal to a wide range of audiences. There are three themes: Land, Nation, People.
Subject:
- Natural History Museum
- Social History Museum
- Domestic Items
- Ethno-specific
- Human Rights
- Migration
- Peace
- Politics
- Professionals and Trades
- Rural Life
- Social History
- Agriculture
- Aviation
- Aboriginal Art
- Aboriginal Artefacts
- Aboriginal Culture
- Anthropology
- Torres Strait Cultures
- Environmental or Conservation
- Invertebrates
- Geology
- Ephemera
- Film Sound and Video
- Popular Culture
Items
Painting
Darrarru (Devil Devil)
Horse's heart
Phar Lap's heart
Jacket
Convict Jacket
Convicts typically wore basic clothing such as this 1860s jacket from Tasmania when building roads and bridges. It is now on show in Horizons: The Peopling of Australia since 1788 as a symbol of our convict past.
Caravan
Propert Caravan
This striking three-berth caravan was built by the Propert Trailway Products Company of Sydney in 1956, primarily for promotional work. While the company did make a few of these caravans for sale, it concentrated primarily on making folding models, particularly custom-built ones. This caravan stands in the Nation exhibition as a nostalgic reminder of Australia'a 1950's obsession with caravanning.
Vehicle
Buffalo Catcher
Water buffalo were introduced into the Northern Territory from Timor in the 1820's. Although wild buffalo hunting was a thriving enterprise by the 1880's, the industry collapsed a century later when most of the feral herds were wiped out in a campaign to elimate the diseases that threatened cattle. The 'Tangled Destinies' exhibition includes this 'buff catcher' owned by Tommy Fawcett - complete with bionic arm for catching buffalo - and also features breathtaking footage of the catcher in action.