AGY-110 | Technological, Industrial, and Sanitary Museum (1880-1889) / Technological, Industrial, and Sanitary Museum (1880-1889) / Museum of Technology and Applied Science (1945-1950) / Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (1950- )

Full description

Following the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879, a Committee of Management for a Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum was formed on 15 January 1880. It was responsible to the Trustees of the Australian Museum, who felt that it was an institution 'much needed in the Colony' and 'with classes for instruction, would afford much valuable practical information to a large class of the community'. The Committee appointed a member 'to select specimens from the Exhibition...in anticipation of the vote of £1000.' (1)

The Exhibition had been dedicated to the manufacturing industry, agriculture and fine arts and many of the exhibits were either donated or sold to the Museum because of the huge expense involved in returning them to their owners overseas. (2) The Museum was initially situated in the Exhibition's location in the Garden Palace and remained there until 1882, when the building was destroyed by fire. An application made immediately to the Government for a portion of the Agricultural Hall in the Outer Domain (3) was acceded to and the Museum officially opened to the public on 15 December 1883.

The new Museum intended 'to collect together typical collections of all materials of economic value belonging to the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, from the raw material through the various stages of manufacture, to the final product or finished article ready for use.' (4)

Accommodation problems were evident as early as 1885. The Committee of Management repeatedly urged for suitable permanent premises. It was this issue which led to the resignation of the Committee in December 1889. The Technological Museum, as it was then known, was transferred in January 1890 to the Technical Education Branch of the Public Instruction Department. This branch took over the management of all matters relating to technical education. (5) The Superintendent of the Technical Education Branch Mr F. Bridges described the transfer of the museum as a "direct gain to the technical college while the museum will receive types of good works from the college students". The museum was also very important as "an aid to technical education in acting as bureau supplying information on all kinds of subjects, but especially those connected with the resources and industries of the colony". (6) The Museum remained in the Agricultural Hall until it was moved to Harris Street, Ultimo in 1893.

The Museum of Technology and Applied Science Act, 1945 (Act No.31, 1945) provided for the constitution of a body corporate, known as the Trustees of the Museum of Technology and Applied Science. Seven Trustees appointed by the Governor were responsible to the Minister. Their function was the control, management, administration and maintenance of the Museum. Under the terms of this Act, the Museum was renamed the Museum of Technology and Applied Science. The Museum was renamed the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in 1950, however this did not become official until the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Act 1961 (Act No.30, 1961). (7)

1981 saw the internal restructuring of MAAS into five divisions concerned with professional Museum Services, Administration, Applied Arts, Science and Technology and Information Resource Services. Country branches were also maintained by the Museum from the 1890s onwards at - Broken Hill, Bathurst, Goulburn, Newcastle (1890-1940), West Maitland (1890-1955) and Albury. These were attached to local technical colleges and used in conjunction with regular classes. Only the Albury branch, which was not linked to a college, had full-time staff. Budgetary restrictions meant that the branches could not be adequately maintained and the Trust decided to close all country branches in 1982. (8)

In 1981, Stage 1 of MAAS opened as the Powerhouse Museum in the former Ultimo Tram Depot. It then comprised the Powerhouse Museum, the Sydney Mint Museum (transferred to the Museum's care along with the Hyde Park Barracks in 1979) and the Sydney Observatory (transferred in 1982). Stage 2 of the Museum opened in 1988 in the former Ultimo Power House. The Trustees oversee its management and policy direction. The Museum had two divisions: Collections and Museum Services, and Business and Administrative Operations. The Collections and Museum Services Division was responsible for collections development and research, exhibition development, collections management, education and visitor services. The Business and Administrative Operations Division oversaw finance, properties, human resources, commercial operations, systems, and operations management. (9)

The Hyde Park Barracks was transferred to the Historic Houses Trust in 1989. (10) The Sydney Mint Museum closed as a public museum on 20 June 1997. (11)

The MAAS worked to 'effectively minister to the needs and demands of the community in any or all branches of applied science and art and the development of industry' by:
(i) the display of selected objects arranged to illustrate the industrial advance of civilisation and the development of inventions and manufactures,
(ii) the promotion of craftsmanship and artistic taste by illustrating the history and development of the applied arts, (iii) lectures, broadcasts, films, publications and other educational means,
(iv) scientific research, or
(v) any other means necessary or desirable for the development of the natural resources and manufacturing industries of New South Wales. (12)

In 2017, the Board of Trustees established the Finance Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee in compliance with the Internal Audit and Risk Management Policy for the NSW Public Sector. The objective of the FARM Committee was to provide independent assistance to the Board by monitoring, reviewing and providing advice about MAAS governance processes, risk management and control frameworks, and its external accountability obligations. The FARM Committee supported and advised the Board on the financial position and performance of MAAS, including annual financial statements and annual budget. The FARM Committee consisted of at least three members, and no more than five (5) members, appointed by the President of the Board. At least one member of the Committee had accounting or related financial management experience, with an understanding of accounting and auditing standards in a public sector environment. The FARM Committee was directly responsible and accountable to the Board for the exercise of its responsibilities. In carrying out its responsibilities, the FARM Committee recognised that primary responsibility for management of MAAS rested with the Board. (13)

In 2022, as one of Australia's oldest and most important cultural institutions, the MAAS continued the delivery of an expansive renewal program which included the planning and development of Powerhouse Parramatta, a new flagship museum in western Sydney, one of the fastest-growing and most culturally diverse communities in Australia. (14)

Endnotes
1. Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council, 1878-79 Vol.3, p.858.
2. Willis, J. L., "From Palace to Powerhouse", 1982, p.19 (unpublished).
3. Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council, 1883 Vol.2, p.725.
4. ibid., 1880-1881 Vol.2, p.331.
5. Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 1891-92 Vol.7. Report of the Minister of Public Instruction for the year 1890, pp.54-55.
6. ibid., 1891-92 Vol.7. Appendix XIX, Report on Technical Education - Annexes - Technological Museum.
7. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Act 1961 (Act No.30, 1961).
8. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report, 1981.
9. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report, 1982, p.14.
10. Historic Houses Trust Annual Report for the year ended 1995, p.6
11. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report, 1997, p.20.
12. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report 2017-2018, p.81.
13. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report 2017-2018, p.82.
14. Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report 2021-2022, p.9.
REFERENCES
Australian Encyclopaedia Vol. 6 "Museums" p.213.
Progress Review, 1981-82 pp.4-6 & 16 & 20.
Progress Review 1983.
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Annual Report, 1986-87.
Official Yearbook 1904-5.
Report upon certain Museums for Technology, Science, and Art also upon Scientific, Professional, and Technical Instruction, and systems of Evening Classes in Great Britain and the Continent of Europe, Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council, 1879-80, Vol.3, pp.787-1059.