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Black and white photograph of posed workers in a paddock working around machinery. The boss or overseer is mounted on a horse, an engine driver tends the steam portable engine while labourers fill the baler with hay and remove the bales.

Industrial Revolution in Australia: impact on the wheat industry

May 1, 2019

After the British settled the colony in the early years from 1788, they struggled to grow enough food to survive. For them, the soil around the settlement was shallow and infertile, rainfall erratic and climate alien.

Realistic model of a cow, complete with horns and hair coat.

MAAS Partnership with Red Room Poetry

April 18, 2019

Poetry Object 2019 RED ROOM POETRY Object is Australia’s largest free poetry writing competition for schools. The competition invites us to think about how the objects in our lives can hold special personal meanings, and to explore capturing these stories in our own words by writing a poem about a chosen talismanic object.

This doll tableau comprises an underwater cave with reclining ceramic mermaid with long peal necklace surrounded by marine props including a ceramic starfish and turtle, plastic skeleton and jewel-filled treasure chest. The tableau is made of various materials including beadwork, shells, plastic and pipe cleaners. The tableau is mounted on particle board. It has a blue ribbon

Remembering Sydney’s Royal Easter Show

April 9, 2019

If you grew up in Sydney in the 1950s or 1960s, going to the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at the old Moore Park Showground was as important as Christmas and your birthday, and much anticipated for weeks before.

A young woman holding a certificate and a grey-haired man pose in front of an exhibition space.

Shape 2018: Student Design

April 4, 2019

Shape 2018 is a showcase of exceptional year 12 student work from the syllabus areas focused on design and technology – Design and Technology / Textiles and Design / Industrial Technology. This year MAAS has 37 examples on show from around New South Wales.

Black and white photograph of a woman working at a drawing board.

Meet the Volunteer: Denise Larcombe

April 1, 2019

Name: Denise Larcombe Which of the Museum’s sites do you volunteer at: Powerhouse Museum How long have you been volunteering at MAAS: Since 2007 What’s your background: After Studying Industrial Design at East Sydney Technical College I worked in lighting Design and then joined Crown Crystal Glass as an Industrial Designer in 1967.

Sketch showing idea for opening of the Sydney Olympics. The Sydney habrour birdge shape with yellow firweworks against a blue green background. .

The Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2019: still a sight for celebration

March 19, 2019

At 87 years old the Sydney Harbour Bridge continues to be admired by artists. During its construction it was documented by photographers such as Harold Cazneaux and painters like Grace Cossington Smith.

Woman with display of 3 steps - choose style, pick fabric, custom fit

Algorithms and fashion on demand – an interview with Citizen Wolf

March 13, 2019

The Good Design Awards 2018: Fashion Revolution Australia exhibition features four Australian labels illustrating some of the principles promoted by Fashion Revolution Australia, including considered (or conscious) sourcing of materials, upcycling and transparent supply chains.

A digitally produced graphic designed to look like a paper cutout artwork. The graphic features planets, speceships and an astronomer looking through a telescope, against a landscape of green and blue mountain-like features. At the top of the image is a real photograph of the Space Shuttle launching.

Once Upon a Try: MAAS Collection on Google Cultural Institute

March 8, 2019

Google Cultural Institute is an online platform which brings together the collections of hundreds of museums and galleries around the world. Its goal is to make these amazing collections free and accessible to all.

MAAS Architecture Commission 2019: Agora by Penhale and Winter

February 26, 2019

Agora is the second in a series of three annual architecture installations commissioned by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Funded by a generous private donor, the annual commission is an opportunity for MAAS to support Australian architecture and design practitioners.

TeachMeets at MAAS

February 21, 2019

The Education and Digital Learning team at MAAS produce a wide variety of experiences exploring the Museum’s collection and disciplines for school audiences, including programs for teachers. Keeping in touch with teachers and teacher communities is important to us. Not only to build and maintain relationships, but to keep up to date with issues facing teachers, their ideas on teaching and learning, and to get regular reality checks on life at school.

An image of a red papercut. 'Golden Coin, Good Fortune and Longevity' (jīn qián fú shòu).

Happy Lunar New Year, The Year of the Pig

February 5, 2019

The Lunar New Year is the most significant annual celebration for Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures. Today (5 February 2019) marks the beginning of the Year of the Golden Pig. If you were born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 or 2019 then it is your year!

Low angle close shot of a dark and light brown classic car on grass. Front left wheel is the closest object in the photo. The sun is at the centre of the top section of the photo.

MAAS Cars at Parramatta’s CARnivale 2019

February 1, 2019

Over the recent long weekend, I was thrilled to assist with the Museum’s participation in the annual CARnivale festival. Held for the second year in Sydney’s Parramatta Park on 26 January, CARnivale displayed over 400 classic vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, fire engines and ambulances, all made before 1987!

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