WTF Happened to the QLD MUSEUM?

[@fostervoxproductions]

I love the Brutalist architecture. Always enjoy visiting the museum, even if only for the vibe.

[@jimgraham5221]

Hi Rob, I remember going to the museum on Gregory terrace as a kid, I was amazed and scared, it was a true museum and the huge staircase to the second level was fantastic. Keep up us informed on our modern history. Great stuff!

[@MrUltranuman]

I like that the architecture of the Museum is still pretty much unchanged. It is a wonderful structure from its era and worth preserving as is.

[@samshepherd26]

Your outfit is very Fear And Loathing In Brisvegas for this episode Rob.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

I loved the old museum near the ekka

[@jadeharvey1265]

The best item there is the A7V 'Mephisto' tank. Also that's the problem with post modern architecture, it goes out of style every decade and needs remodelling. Where as the arcitecture of the old museum/exhibition centre will forever be a timeless beauty, it's a piece of art within itself.

[@stephseckold4324]

I personally loved the old Exhibition building Museum-the building itself was a gothic adventure and 'felt' like time traveling

[@Ducayneau]

The old museum building is one of my favourites in Brisbane.

[@maxsonthonax1020]

I like Brutalism! This building is modern. It has been saved from having a post-modern skirt put on it. Instead: Maybe just move the storage to another site to expand the exhibit space into the upper floors.

[@aaronzimpel4995]

yes this!

[@chaseadams5037]

Or we could deport all the anti Australian immigrants the leftwing communists let in and the money we save could be spent on much needed infrastructure or better yet housing for the tent cities labour has created! 🤷🤫😃

[@gorsime13]

i love the architecture of the creative precinct, it’s my fave set of buildings in Brisbane. the concrete and plants and water and spacious tall rooms all feel so lovely together and the brutalism is very nice to me. of course that is simply personal taste! I totally agree it’s outgrown itself somewhat, but i feel like it’s more of a poor use of space than a lack of it. i adore visiting the museum but i am a huge fan of the taxidermy collection :’D it’s been my favourite ever since i was a kid and still is to this day. the cabinet of skulls on the staircase has always held my interest. TBH, i think the reason that MOQ doesn’t have much in the way of anthro exhibits is because of the nature of their origins. a great number of the Indigenous objects held by the museum are stolen and like you mentioned, MOQ is in the process of repatriating some remains, but it’s clearly a very slow process, and I think it’s simply easier for them to keep the public exhibit focus on flora and fauna instead of diving into a costly, time intensive and emotionally charged process of sorting the whole private collection to figure out what needs repatriation and what can go on display. i’ve gone down rabbit holes of some of the people who’ve curated assorted (state) museums and collections of Indigenous peoples’ objects and have been stunned and repulsed by the way these objects are treated (selling on the fb marketplace!) and the total lack of provenance, or provenance that shows they are stolen. There’s a rightful lack of trust in museums at the moment and I don’t imagine MOQ wants to go looking for trouble. though, they did just have an exhibition with a bunch of stuff from Egypt so maybe i’m assigning a bit too much thoughtfulness. I think a separate natural history museum or something of that kind might be worth entertaining as an idea. having gone to the smithsonian and a few other natural history museums through america, those huge halls full of world class taxidermy and fossil replicas are just so grand and memorable. (i’m going to daydream now) there’d space for an expanded exhibit on Australian megafauna and dinosaurs, perhaps something like that lovely Great Barrier Reef room they used to have where you could learn about the different turtles and walk around under them (i was so enthralled by that as a kid no matter how many times we visited) plus information on reef health and keeping oceans clean (chuck the preserved shark and squid in there lol). There could be a section for international plants and animals with taxidermy or bones of them, not just Australian ones, but i think the Australian bird, fish and reptile taxidermy collection is awesome and deserves its place. And of course the dinosaurs :) I don’t want to get rid of them, they’re a reminder of scientific history,but the kids area around them kind of sucks and I think it would do well to become a place to explain to kids how our understanding of things changes through time, like how we learn more about dinosaurs and change how we see them. My cat is laying on my hands so I can’t finish my little essay of a comment but I really liked this video even if I didn’t aheee with all of it. cheers!

[@luciexo2821]

I agree- it's a beautiful juxtaposition of brutalist architecture and lush landscaping. Then add the view of the river and it's kind of serene? There's little pockets of space outside the buildings that I used to study/ read in/ sometimes picnic with friends in when I was in university that become this semi-private oasis right in the middle of the city. The hate the brutalist architecture gets is madness- the buildings should be heritage listed. The museum curation itself though, is another story. It feels very stuck in the 1950's. I'd love to see the story of Queensland explored- the unique architecture, Indigenous stories and voices, Queensland's history of crime and corruption, Queensland's contributions to science and medicine, climate science, Queensland art- there are so many cool stories that to tell that can appeal to children and adults alike. Sorry, I've gone completely off the deep end with whatever the state-specific version of patriotism is.

[@stevencrawford]

I love the brutalist architecture in that area there. Similar the South Bank in London. It has really grown into itself. I hated it as a kid.

[@dingobonza]

I've always loved the architecture! It was a novelty for a kid from the bush - like buildings I'd never seen before in my life.

[@DarkMatter1992]

Well, at least no other museum in the world can say they have the only surviving German A7V tank from World War I. How Mephisto came to be housed at The Queensland Museum is a story unto itself.

[@tpwonder99]

Yep I read about that! Some sort of s prank or other wasn’t it? Can’t remember but there was quite a bit of larrikin in t?

[@Bearded.Biscuit]

The problem is, 95% of people don’t know about that part. It’s kinda hidden away. My 5yo was obsessed with it, he couldn’t walk away from it.

[@emilchandran546]

I agree with many of your points. The museum, if you've been before, is pretty easy do in an hour, just see whats changed. Its a bit sparse. The dinosaurs out the front are old inaccurate, and are an example of how the museum can feel a bit sub par. But I totally disagree about the architecture. I love the brutalist architecture. I was a student at QUT and sometimes I would walk through the cultural centre to South Brisbane for no reason other than to enjoy these monolithic structures. Some of the most peaceful spots along the river in the CBD can be found in their folds. They are a symbol of a burgeoning Brisbane which was embracing modernity as it approached expo, the bicentenary, and the twenty first century. I was not there to see the industrial buildings get torn down, and I never saw these buildings in their glory days. I was born long after expo88 and all that. But I am still aware of what a transformative that time was in the city. I am truly concerned, in fact, by the continued upgrades and renewals taking away from what was a very coherent and clear vision of the precinct at its inception. I am not saying they should be frozen in time. But, messing with the concrete exteriors or the spacious and open interiors (which I love, and didn't realise were as polarising as the exteriors) feels wrong, and I think Queensladers may regret it. The particular architectural style aside, these buildings were meant to look and feel alike, all part of the one whole. I think the problem may not be that the museum looks old or tired, it just looks that way by comparison. These buildings are only forty years old after all. I think they deserve the opportunity to mature. That means not messing with them too much. The cultural precinct is a very unique space with a lot of character. Lets not hasten to change it so soon. Finally, I was disheartened to read in the comments how many people have not visited the museum in a decade or longer. I stated above that I can see where you're coming from in your overall assessment of the exhibits on display. But it would be totally wrong to write off the museum as not worthwhile altogether. The temporary exhibitions are what keep me coming back. I guarantee, if you enjoy museums, there will be something for you there at least once a year. We once went in on a whim and decided to cough up the admission for the history of undergarments exhibition on loan from the V&A. It remains a personal highlight. So check out the website occasionally at least, to see if something grabs you.

[@goldmanz4852]

That is some of Brisbanes best modernist architecture. I love it

[@JaredBlackmore-og8wl]

I for one really like the architecture of that precinct. A lot of people once would’ve thought the last museum building at RNA was an eye sore for many years. If we replace it with some modern crap it will be a constant cycle of 20-30yr face lifts. Furthermore, it’s a great reminder of arguably the most transformational time of Southbank, ney Brisbane. Once we loose that there will be no “historical” buildings in that area of the 80s in Brisbane.

[@timefilm]

The museum has become a museum

[@Quimbyrbg]

Right on point, Rob. I was a huge fan of the QLD museum back in the early 2000s, my partner and I would take hours wandering through. I hadn't been there since about 2014, do when I took my 7 year old a few weeks back I was shocked by how crap it is now I think they have ceded too much space to the Science Centre (which is an excellent offering) and the temporary display area. The displays are sparse, disjointed, and uninteresting. The hiding away of the anthropological displays was very disappointing, especially when they wasted such a huge space on the emu and some poles exhibit... The dioramas are just boring minimalist shelves, which is a huge shame as I have fond memories of the old diprotodon Vs a giant goanna display. The diprotodon skull doesn't even superimpose the flesh on anymore. Just low energy, low effort, and boring. I have spent countless hours in that museum, but my son and I barely made it an hour before we ran out of interest. Thanks for covering this, maybe they will pick up their game one day and it will be worth the trip, rather than being a glorified waiting room for the (fantastic) Science Centre and the stupid Lego branded nonsense.

[@nimuroji]

You are correct on all accounts. My mother worked there for decades so I kind of grew up there. They do have the anthropological artifacts they just aren’t on display. Major issue is both lack of funding and misuse of funding. I have been in the archives and non-public areas and they have incredible items. It is just a shame these aren’t visible for most visiting unless you’re a researcher looking at specific items in the collection. It needs a new vision.

[@martingoodef811]

It’s a very poorly set out Museum. A Museum is a place where you never have enough time to see everything and are left wanting to return and discover more. You are right in your thoughts.

[@kerrieannebaker8595]

love the architecture!! don't change a thing!

[@MarkZX14R]

Great video - I think Walk About with Rob should be on repeat there... your videos have taught me so much about a place I have spent much of my life in yet knew so little about :)

[@minkles1330]

I remembered as a kid going to the museum when it was near the RNA showgrounds before the whole Expo thing and south bank

[@joletapetty6706]

These were my exact reactions the first time I visited... 20 years ago when I was a kid. It's beyond time for an update, I literally took my kids there and almost everything was exactly the same as when I was a kid, which is just crazy!

[@element271]

I like the mid century architecture, they should lean into the style rather then try forcibly update it with a sea of glass panels.

[@t-rocks1960]

I Agree, I Love the old museum Building over at Bowen bridge..

[@walkaboutwithrob]

It's a fine building, but leaked hugely whenever it rained. I'm sure they've fixed it now.

[@DanieruX10]

Imagine the influx of international tourists during Olympics who think it'll be a good idea to visit the museum in 2032...

[@steggles667]

Hopefully they close the museum for maintenance during that time as it would be embarrassing.

[@tasd5673]

Think of his KZbinr sun count increas

[@HappyCheeryChap]

We don't even need our own ho-hum general museum that can't compete like this. But I think we could really get our place on the worldwide map if they just transform it into the specialised "Democracy Manifest Museum". Share our sophisticated 10:12 and proud history on the global stage! We wouldn't even need the Olympics... Tourists will fly in from all over world just for this.

[@sophrapsune]

You’re spot on. QM has always had a big place in my heart since Dad used to take us there as a young children, we clambered around Mephisto that used to sit out rusting in the rain and then went inside to listen & watch as birds calls were displayed on an oscilloscope. Nowadays, I like to take my children there but it really doesn’t have much of a message beyond natural history curios. If you went there to understand the human history of Queensland, you’d really leave none the wiser. Every subject should be presentable to multiple audiences, to both children and adults with different levels of explanation.

[@GoodGolly.MissLolly]

I fondly remember going in the 70s when it was in the exhibition building. Last I heard it was being used for the Conservatorium of Music. I’m surprised it’s still standing lol

[@Tooomasbiwden]

Id like to ad its great to see your qld content. Keep it up.

[@CHUNKYNUGGET666]

Great video mate! We need ppl like you 👍

[@Wayner71]

To be honest, I think that the old Museum in the Exhibition Building had more magic. This one has that strange phenomenon where you end up viewing what you have already seen whilst trying to find something new. I have never liked the bland and dated Robin Gibson architecture either. Cheers.

[@katecritt]

Adults like dinosaur Lego too, Rob ;) It would be great to see more of Queensland's human history at the museum though. I know next to nothing about the First Nations history of my area, and all the colonial history I was taught in school focused on Sydney. My favourite museums are the Berlin Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico.

[@JaydenWilliams-my1br]

Finally someone said what needed to be said. The Queensland museum is provincial in nature, it is anti-intellectual, it is anything but a museum in its current state. You summarized it best as a "playdate for children". Perhaps it was fine for the 80s, but Brisbane has grown a lot since then, but the "museum" has continued masquerading as "childrens entertainment" and not what a museum should be educational and informative. I really think the Queensland Art Gallery needs its own space, its just tacked onto the side of the museum in an almost forgotten way so that neither the museum or gallery really gets to shine. I would love to see the Treasury Building transformed as the new Queensland Art Gallery for the historical Australian and International collections and the current QAG building would be incorporated into an expanded Queensland Museum floorspace that allows for a cohesive narrative to be told; natural history, Indigenous history, first settlers, and into contemporary Australia.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

I love the "outdated" buildings, it was always great to wonder around the empty outside hallways drunk at around 1am... such a liminal relaxing experience.

[@christopherallan619]

I totally agree. I went through the museum two days ago. I have not been there for about six years and even though there has been some upgrades and it looks a little more modern it can be a lot better, I remember the shop part of the museum being better 15 years ago to what it is now, hardly any books just cheap kids stuff.

[@livinginitaly16years80]

The design should stay the same as a musuem of the 1980s architecture which is unique in itself plus my father was the formwork Foreman during its construction .Most of the labourers and carpenters who defined the shape of the Building are by now no longer with us

[@CountMeIn-CMI]

I remember going to the museum at Gregory Terrace when I was a kid.

[@joeblow9467]

When i was 14 / 15 i loved going there so many times and it was better than the new one at south bank which i only visited once because i didn't like it .

[@PatchAdams-o1u]

Beautifully said.

[@Cinesound01]

Without objection to my masters at QM. However I will say in anonymity along with many staff: South Brisbane has significantly outgrown its location. It is cramped, flood prone, the exhibits are dated, the museum is less about education but rather treated as a glorified playground and merchandising. Successive Managements past have treated the Museum like a dumping ground with half the collection split between Hendra repository & in the Catacombs below. The general public receive comment, what has changed? And why come back. For years, there was talk since 2011 floods of moving the museum to a purpose built modern building but successive governments have stalled on it and past QM management. It has got better with leadership, but the old guard hangers on make it difficult for people to do their jobs and improve the quality of the museum

[@FutureSystem738]

The current museum is complete rubbish, a farce - I’ve been a few times but will never bother again. It’s sad for Queensland that this is all we can offer. The old one- whilst dramatically bigger, was dramatically better. Till the day it closed I never got sick of visiting there. Sad!

[@olivedrabgarage6243]

Great video Rob, I tried going there with my kids last year and found just trying to get into a parking space close by was confusing let alone wandering around for a few hours looking at some boring stuff for my adult brain. I also wasn't prepared to pay the "gullible adult prices" foe the Lego display, so we ended up just going to the lagoon for a swim and then back home. Honestly speaking, Southwark and Brisbane are highly overrated for places to visit for entertainment. Parking is difficult, the roads are difficult, entry prices are expensive...the list goes on. I'd much rather go and visit a museum overseas that has easy access, direct parking on-site, reasonable entry fees and reasonably priced on-site food places with interactive displays....or a prehistoric forest and go exploring with my kids.

[@LindalandAirlines]

I love the brutalist architecture! 😍😍

[@jimmyp1433]

So glad you made this Rob.. I thought I was going nuts last time I went there with my young Daughter.. bouncing off the walls trying to find "the rest of the museum " , before realising there is none.. Do you know if the public accessible floor space has changed since the 90s/00s? I was certain there used to be areas that included some early aircraft and what not. Either way it's extremely limited in it's subject mater as it stands. There's just a mind boggling number of things a major museum in a capital city should cover, from the human story as you say, but also industrial history, wartime of course, there's heaps of local stories to tell . Thankfully there's a lot of smaller museums littered around the city that might be worth exploring? . Only thing i'd disagree with is the Aesthetics. 10 yr's ago my opinion would be different but I think the Brutalist style is really holding its own, albeit a bit haphazard i/ bit of a rabbit warren in layout.. there's certainly some 'odd' and wasteful use of space in some areas of that entire complex , which is exactly what it doesn't need :(

[@leahw2124]

I remember the huge redback above the escalators as a kid. Terrified me haha. The spark lab was also a rort. I loved the old science centre more. And it too was so crowded and geared towards children, forgetting about adults who want to go to learn or just to be stimulated while the kids play.

[@grahambishop263]

Great video I 100% agree we need more of qld and Brisbane's history told

[@jbelle021]

The last time I visited the Queensland Museum was in early 2000. They had a great exhibition showcasing life as Early Settlers and the tools they made do with. I visited it a couple of times. In 2010, I encouraged a friend to see it, but unfortunately, it was no longer there. It is always disheartening when these human interest displays disappear.

[@BrisbaneFlyerAU]

Does the building’s outside need to be renovated? If we took this approach on every building there would be no diverse architecture as everything would be modernised. I think I’d rather it stay true to its brutalist architectural form.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

Modern architecture is just a glass box with a bunch of tacky aluminium flashing bolted on lit up with LEDs... kind of like a Christmas tree.

[@BrisbaneFlyerAU]

@@timhinchcliffe5372 I’m glad you agree with me

[@charlessale409]

@@timhinchcliffe5372you have described BAD modern architecture. There is a lot of good modern architecture out there!

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

@@charlessale409 true, I guess it comes down to the guy signing the cheque.

[@thoughtengine]

@@charlessale409 Example?

[@nataleahhstuy9001]

South Brisbane local here... been saying this for years loved hearing your well articulated points

[@dreama7379]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the aesthetic. It is a beautiful example of mid-century architecture and it would be a travesty to change it.

[@kazbah1217]

Not enough general seating. The expo 88 event there was fantastic 🎉

[@kerriebarron]

We need a formidable army of people here to go for the funding and see a vision realised. This museum was conceived only a few years after the new term post-modernism had been coined and it was ok at the time, interactive and everything! I have always been knocked over by the beauty of cultural displays down south. Evocative and beautiful. I obsess over glass and cabinetry which take on new life in a Sydney CBD museum, a small but thick plate of glass used as a window into a cavity beneath the floor boards of a colonial building to reveal dust and lint from daily lives 200 years ago. Loaded. I truly hope artists are at the helm when it happens. This is the elevation we need.

[@shantininja7707]

A few years ago my family and I went to the state library. AND COULDN'T FIND THE BOOKS!!

[@outbackAus260]

I was disappointed when I first took my family there and they had taken away the cornerstone exhibits that I grew up visiting there, like the animatronic megafauna exhibit with the moving giant lizard or the large cat that sat on top of the rock flicking its tail randomly.

[@dingobonza]

Jesus I remember those

[@EngineMusic]

only point i kinda disagree with is the exterior redesign. i really enjoy brutalist architecture, and seeing it kind fade into the backdrop of steel and glass would be disappointing. other than that, i 100% agree, that the museum is lacklustre. (also, i go to uni right across the road from it lmao)

[@HappyCheeryChap]

Yeah spending a bunch of money on the exterior seems like the worst way to waste it.

[@rcarlyle]

Hi Rob, love the videos. I went there recently with a group of seniors. The place was full of school kids who were respectful and well behaved. We had 4 hour to fill and, having been to the museum before, knew that 2 hours was more than enough, so off to the cafe. The cafe is excellent and the coffee is excellent. We came to Brisbane after experiencing the Sydney museums, and yes Brisbane museum was disappointing in comparison.

[@leewarry8641]

The old museum was great the building itself was history I loved it as a kid in the 60’s .

[@Lifeandtravelsofbek]

Looking for my daughter and I in the background as we went to the museum the same day as you 😂 I found it mostly depressing. I hate the pinned insects and stuffed animals. Agree with everything you said. Good video!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

@Lovelifeandtravel Thanks. I was there from 9:30am until about 11:15am. Surprised you didn't see me wandering about...

[@Lifeandtravelsofbek]

@@walkaboutwithrob I got to the Museum around 10:30am. So close!

[@raytrace5036]

What a nostalgic trip down memory lane. I loved the museum as a kid when it was a new building. I was enthralled. Such happy memories, tinged with sadness as the public walkways around the building were where I spent my first days and nights as a scared 12yo homeless kid that led into a decade of horror. I just remember it felt safe.

[@noshame7472]

Hi Rob, yes I remember you at the star trek display? I worked at the Qld Musuem for over 7 years as a Visitor Service Officer, 'One of those people whom had to wear the Kermit Green Shirts? And besides closing and opening the building on my shift days, would stand at the Cloak Room in the foyer saying hello to you and the other volunteers of the Star Trek display? I've since moved on from the Qld Musuem and are living in Toowoomba doing community services work?? I agree with you about the nosense of the Museum displays and besides going into the details did submit to the director (Ian Galloway) and upper management and idea to make the Museum a time line from Prehistoric time through to modern times starting from level 2 all the way to level 4 etc. Taking into account the Indigenous civilizations in Queensland and then European Settlement etc. A start to finish. It was warmly received but the idea unfortunately fell apart due to persons wanting to grease the funding wheels of elected officials etc? From memory most of the families that would visit the Museum during the busiest times where trying to get out of the heat or rain etc. And Mum's & Dads unfortunately wanted the kids entertained (Science Center)? So bye bye Time Line Idea?? Kind Regards Andrew Webb.

[@mollydooker9636]

If we keep 'upgrading' the architecture of decades past we will erase history. Brisbane is a lovely city but so many historical buildings have already been lost. You may not like its aesthetics but the museum is a part of Brisbane's heritage. Keep refreshing everything and the whole city will look like a giant shopping arcade , utterly souless.

[@chaseadams5037]

Brisbane used to be a hell of a lot better, now central station and the Queen Street mall is overrun with Sudanese causing issues and Ungrateful disrespectful Chinese everywhere that hate Australians. I don't even recognise the city I was born and raised in anymore! Shame on us for allowing this to happen! 👎

[@titan-tm7kl]

Every major city has a real museum with major exhibits that are permanently on display. The real museum ive seen around Brisbane is the Caboolture historical society

[@elfinvale]

2:16 if it didn't have Oakland on its sign i'd have thought that photo was of the qld museum! i'm sure brutalism can be done well but i find it so damn ugly. especially when the original building was so beautiful. i agree with your ideas to improve it. last time i went was at least 5 years ago, with an international friend; all the permanent exhibits looked exactly like they did when i visited it in my early teens. it was very disappointing.

[@PhilipLeitch]

I always found these things interesting: 1. The skeletons of large wombats and other marsupials. 2. The insect collection (especially those coloured beetles they bring out occasionally) 3. The special events they put on like the space race. That said, the building was dated and ugly on opening day - something well covered by the papers and news footage at the time. The lack of Queensland pioneer and Aboriginal history was actually okay with me and yet this is desperately missing in Brisbane. The Charleville secret air base and regional museums do far better jobs of this.

[@BiteBunnys]

Great video! I pass it every single day on my way to my college, I am only 20 but I remember the museum being a lot more engaging and interesting when I was younger but maybe it was just a bias that there were more interactive exhibits which of course draw in a child.. I specifically remember some sort of fake excavation site where we could uncover dinosaur bones. It makes me happy to see that even a decade later some of the preserved animals in fluid I saw back then are still there, seeming to even be upkept with new fluid as it slowly gets more cloudy. There ability to upkeep exhibits is nothing to discount but I do feel sadness watching the amount of exhibits and their complexity slowly diminish.. I was absolutely SHOCKED to see how much the paid science exhibit has shrunk, it kind of feels insulting how little it has now.. But I will remain hopeful for the future that things will be ever changing and it can again change for the better

[@adamjones1805]

We went through the museum last year. It was good, and I enjoyed it. But you're right, it's needs more. It most definitely needs a facelift, and an expansion. I think building a few more floors up, and tell a story from beginning to end. Start from QLD and Australia being part of Gondwanaland, right through to present day QLD. There is definitely a story to tell, so why not tell it.

[@AnnQlder]

You’re right, about all of it. The displays rarely change, the whole place has a childish feel, I don’t bother with it much. Whoever runs the art gallery and goma are doing a much better job. I hate the building too, but even some fresh landscaping and some sculptures outside (more, new) would improve it a thousand fold. I feel like it’s run by someone who denies history, or is afraid of it 🤷

[@davemangle6448]

I would think we’d need embrace the ‘70’s vibe to it. In 50 years time it would be a great example of that era, when so many other building have been modernised. How about moving the stores collection off site, so there’s more room to open up for the public?

[@orosaasoro1]

I have to disagree with one part, and that’s the design. The building stands out for being so brown and boring-looking. When compared to the buildings around it, it feels kind of humble, like it's saying, “Yeah, I’m a big brown building.” It’s not modern, nor is it flashy, but the few times I’ve been there, it feels like walking into the past-which isn’t that the point of a museum? Sure, the inside could use some updates or changes, but the outside feels fine to me. After all, the purpose of these places is to learn about things, often older stuff, which some people might find boring. But then, walking inside and seeing a giant, cool-looking Egyptian mummy or something can make you go, “Whoa, that’s pretty cool.”

[@soulsworn13]

I was stoked about the update to the free dinosaur exhibit they did before the Dinosaurs of Patagonia came, its much more enjoyable and immersive now. But I agree that a lot of the rest of it isn't as engaging as it could be. But I hope they continue to leave a good portion of it free or a "pay what you want" model, its so important to have equitable access to resources like this

[@RoxyStellar]

spot on fair summation of Qld. museum devolution from quite sophisticated when we moved to Brisbane but regrettably declined noticeably with each underwhelming exhibition extravaganza as you point out here from experience and evident in it's current disappointingly dire stuffed dinosaur dystopia profiteering marketplace miasma , regardless building appearance. appreciate your effort all the same thanx

[@brycejames8770]

Visited it last August really to see the military exhibit downstairs which I thought was quite good. The buildings reminded me of a fortified WW2 installation. I remember the old museum which I visited in 1972 as twelve year old and found it fascinating the bonus was the German tank outside to explore. ( now restored )

[@dianneellem7170]

They definitely need to change out the displays more often. It’s really sad that every time you go there the displays are the same. It’s all well and good if they have a massive number of items in there storage area, but the public should be able to see something different every few months.

[@nate48881]

I completely agree with literally everything youve said here (except the changing it to more modern architecture) though id also say this building is the best brutalist architecture in queensland atleast (though i dont have much experience with brutalist architecture outside Queensland) but saying that it still looks like a giant cuboid turd compared to the old museum

[@lucielou7745]

I also don’t have a problem with the buildings aesthetics. I was there last week and was impressed with how clean and tidy the outside appeared. I do agree most of it is geared to children with very little on display anymore. It’s beginning to feel redundant as my son gets older.

[@ThatGuy_12345]

That was a really well thought out and presented video. Thoughts that alot of people would have but do nothing about. Good work Rob. Another super interesting video 👍🏻

[@jessdean5500]

I just want to know what they did with the old firetrucks and the aeroplanes that used to be there.

[@mrt18709]

I Fondly remember the Flying Flea hanging up there

[@shane2547]

I loved going to sydney museum as a child.. Ill be taking my kids to the Queensland museum too.. Just wish it was more set out like sydneys as you mentioned

[@syco50]

I think the ecobrutalist design of the cultural centre suits brisbane. But again suffers from being too cramped and having a bus station in the center.

[@apersonlikeanyother6895]

I miss the mummy that was on display at the old museum. And yeah it is just for the kids.

[@TomasFunes-rt8rd]

There were more than just one ! And my first memory in life was going into the lobby of that fine museum, and seeing the stuffed gorilla and lion !!

[@jezzeronthecoast]

100% agree, perhaps its my personal bias (and preference) but I always thought the art galleries (GOMA and QAG) where 100% better, though the museum has potential to be more than it is.

[@gammondork]

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I used to love the top floor dinosaur exhibit, and I believe there was an animatronic of a prehistoric wombat, although my memory is a bit fuzzy there. The old turtle exhibit also used to be a highlight, I really wish they’d maintained or updated that one, at the very least. All this consumerism bleeding into exhibits just stole the magic of the museum for me.

[@supatony]

I have to say.."You nailed it". What unique timing as I visited the museum the other week. External dinosaurs overtaken by pigeons. Stuffed animals galore with the most interesting part being the dinosaurs of Qld. But... the whole history of Qld was missing!

[@reggrunow1460]

Great video and I agree with most of your observations. You may get some pushback on the architecture though. The precinct is considered worldwide to be a great example of the Brutalist style.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

To be honest I really don't care about 'pushback'. I offer my opinions politely and people are free to either agree or disagree.

[@fionamainey7686]

I enjoyed The Stockman's Hall of Fame, Longreach. And want to return back that way to go to Dinosaur Museum in Winton. Have you been to Abbey Museum?

[@nathanmurray]

You've been caught out by probably the most common, mislabelled historic photo of "Brisbane." Despite many, many photos of it purporting to be Brisbane's Old Windmill, that windmill photo you've used is not our Old Windmill at all - it is the old windmill at Mt. Gilead, Campbelltown NSW. The different positioning of the doors/windows is the giveaway.

[@markusneighbour9971]

Bump! Fact check!

[@mikeyc427Wolfhound]

Only surviving German World War I A7V tank captured and brought back to Australia by Diggers ! Mephisto!

[@chrismack2677]

Just my opinion (and i respect yours too!), just some of us have found memories of this museum when we were younger we would visit it all the time! And in an ever changing world where I'm sad that most of childhood memories in Brisbane have all been ruined (e.g. The Ekka, regent theatre and McDonalds underneath, Tops, the old David Jones, the old Coles next door, southbank (the original version with the boats and Gondwana).. well, I'd feel better if some things actually dont change! Or if they must expand then can we perhaps add on somehow to the building? (Maybe they can somehow build over it with a new building within or on top of a building, or build another building like they did with Goma closeby and build an underground tunnel walkway to and from the two buildings with exibits underneight also. (im not an architect so im just talking out my A** but surely there is ways to get creative and maintain history which is what a museum is about after all), there has to be other ways that tearing everything down! Anyways, can we please leave this one alone from being pulled down? I beg of you!!! 😅😊

[@BadHonkyTonks]

What a great review, intelligence, thoughtful and insightful. I could do with more of that!

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Thanks! Plenty more like it on my channel.

[@M2the72]

Im a simple man, i see robs video i watch

[@petrichor75]

Glad I chose to visit Fairy Tales instead this weekend. I'd expect to see a permanent chronological exhibit of how Brisbane and QLD became what it is over time, including the social aspect, expansion of urbanisation and how historic moments have shaped various elements of QLD. And what do Brisbanites see as specifically Brisbaneness and Queenslandness?

[@TomasFunes-rt8rd]

What he doesn't dare to say is : they will be quietly "decolonising" our history, bleaching out the history of white Australia and instituting a monotonous focus on aborigines. Pasting "Kurilpa" on the official name is a pretty telling clue to that.

[@NakaToshi420]

@@TomasFunes-rt8rd what backwards planet are you from?? "white Australia" or colonization, is literally a tiny section of the history of Queensland and Australia. Whether you like it or not the majority of our shared history as Queenslanders or Australians belongs to Aboriginal Australia.. We've all heard the colony stories a million times yet it occupies the smallest part of history, its absolutely time we shifted the balance and represented them more. We should view our history as one continuous journey, not one that began the day the boats arrived.

[@TomasFunes-rt8rd]

@@NakaToshi420 Sorry to prick your balloon, but you're wrong : there is NO aboriginal HISTORY from before white exploration. They kept ZERO records, and had not an even an oral tradition of any sequence of historical events. That makes "the colony story" ALL of our history, whether you, personally, like that fact or not.

[@Gallery2Gaze]

I do like the Museum, but you made some really great points. It's not for me to comment on where and what money is spend on and I can see from some comments, people don't even understand what is funded by the state or the city. It's not relevant.... fact is, you made a great summary that should be considered by whoever is responsible to provide the funds. Well done.

[@tpatchie]

Thank you Appreciate your opinion , myself I can say I’ve always enjoyed my visits there , with my children and grandchildren , visiting family,it’s fine as it is , if more exhibits are to follow then it’s win win

[@adamotto7268]

Hey Rob, totally agree.

[@pcorton8693]

There has been some unique exhibitions there over years - Egyptian mummies kept at special room temperature so not to destroy the artifact. Also went to one everything made out of ancient gold. The silk road??? Also another interstate one with Sir Don Bradman cricket bat. Maybe because of covid the place has got stuck in a rut. A museum in the city hall Ann Street had a exhibition of photos of indigenous people who lived in the city centre before all the building sprouted up. The building is easy to get to by train and bus.

[@YeahNo]

We even had the Star Trek exhibit for awhile. So many transient exhibits from across the world he doesn’t mention. Also completely skipped over the SparkLab.

[@chriswhiteman6283]

The Commissariat Store Museum has all the human stories and more history of Brisbane etc. It’s such a great museum if you haven’t been.

[@jasonparr4275]

Well said my friend!!

[@ASCM]

The architect of the current building was very defensive of any change to his work. Seen the previous building. Remember well the stuffed sun fish. Glad the outdated dinosaurs are still sitting there on their new building engineered footings. 😉I might have had something to do with that. Needed to get the old German tank under full cover. It is the last example left. Great story behind it. And was effectively sitting under no more than a car port. Glad you put this video and its insights out there.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

I appreciate the design, it's unique... looks better than all the "glass-n-ally flashing" buildings everywhere. But the _conformists_ want whatever is new.

[@barbaratheillustrator02484]

The Qld Museum lost it's Soul when it was moved from the old Expedition Building. As a kid (1960's) I once found a large basalt flat rock on our farm that had a human foot print pushed into it that fitted my 10 year old foot near perfectly. Dad and I drove up to share the information with the Museums Archeologists. Sadly they laughed at us, stated that such a thing couldn't possibly exist. (without bothering to check it out themselves) That was the day I lost all respect for that museum.

[@walkaboutwithrob]

Heavens, that pretty bad indeed. I hope you still have that piece of basalt rock.

[@groadoswaggins]

To be fair, basalt is igneous/volcanic, so a foot print is unlikely. Maybe you have a piece of mudstone? Take some photos with a scale if you know where it is still. You might be surprised.

[@56music64]

The row upon row of glass cases that were on show at the old museum, I found to be fascinating. I think the "new" museum is too curated and boring for us adults. I think in the rush to be classy and trendy the museum lost something. The something was hours and hours of fascination. Agree too geared towards children. The architecture does not bother me so much, but I would appreciate, if possible, another level being added with a lot more items from the entire collection being on display. I quite enjoyed the "jumbled" presentation of the old museum, surprises were much more likely

[@samward6322]

I still really love the way the building looks. I think considering admission is still free it’s a pretty amazing place. However I’m always amazed that the same exhibits are still on display from my childhood.

[@Spectrecontrol]

I recall seeing many of fhe exact same exhibits in the 1970s in the old building. Definitely time for a revamp and change of thinking behind which (and how) items are displayed.