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BRISBANE AUSTRALIA |
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| The Minerals Heritage Museum
(MHM) was established with the aim of preserving and displaying fine
mineral specimens, and especially those from Australian localities. The
MHM
is administered by four trustees, one of whom is elected by the
Mineralogical Society of Queensland Inc.
The MHM is a Australian Commonwealth government approved public museum and donations of funds are fully tax deductible. Donors of specimens are also entitled to benefits in terms of the Cultural Gifts Program. Currently we are fund-raising to enable existing specimens to be housed in a larger permanent display at a location within the Brisbane CBD. On the 25th August 2004, the MHM opened their new display in the foyer of 61 Mary Street in the Brisbane CBD. The display was officially opened by Bernard Rowley, Chair of Enertrade after an introduction by Ron Young, curator of the display and Bob Bryan, Director of Leyshon and Trustee of the MHM.
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 Crocoite 200mm x 170mm Adelaide Mine Dundas Tasmania (MHM 0064) |
MHM Postal
Address:
MHM Honorary Curator and contacts:
MHM Trustees:
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About the Minerals Heritage Museum | |
 Barite 90mm x 70mm Mt Isa Mine Mount Isa Queensland (MHM 0013) |
In 1988, the management committee of the Mineralogical Society of Queensland moved to establish a mineralogically-oriented museum, to promote the ideal of preserving and presenting mineral specimens for public display and education.
In 1989 the Australian Taxation Office granted the Mineralogical Society of Queensland Minerals Heritage Museum official status as a government approved public museum, with tax deductibility for donors and membership of the Taxation Incentive for the Arts Scheme (now called the Cultural Gifts Program). The MHM is the only government-approved public museum in Australia devoted exclusively to minerals and mineralogy. |
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Aims of the Minerals Heritage Museum | |
 Molybdenite on Smoky Quartz 90mm x 70mm Allies Mine Deepwater, New South Wales (MHM 0042) |
The Museum aims to collect, preserve and display to the public, mineral specimens of outstanding character or quality either because of their aesthetic appeal, the locations at which they were found, their historic importance, or their rarity, and especially those from Australian locations.
Many members of the general public are unaware of the existence of, and comparative rarity of beautiful mineral and crystal specimens. It is a commitment of the trustees of the MHM to educate the public to at least the level of being aware that such natural treasures do exist, and of embracing the philosophy of the necessity of preserving this rare, finite and fast disappearing resource. The Museum, through the trustees and the Museum’s educational displays, also shows resource development and especially hard rock mining, as a necessary and integral aspect of everyday life. The recovery of rare and beautiful mineral specimens is largely dependant upon this industry. Lobby groups today compete to discredit and criticise the mining industry, but this is one instance where a positive view can be shown to the public. In order to gain the status of a government approved public museum, it was necessary for our museum to have a ‘home’. To this end, a ‘Document of Association’ has been formalised between the MHM and the Earth Sciences Department of the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane. Since then, parts of our museum collection have been on permanent display within that Department. We are most grateful to the Earth Sciences Department in allowing us the use of its display area. |
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Viewing our Collection | |
 Calcite 360mm x 300mm Mt Biggenden Mine Biggenden, Queensland (MHM 0044) |
Right from our beginnings, the trustees realised that for the public to gain maximum exposure to our fine collection, a central CBD building or foyer location for the display was desirable, although this was a 'big ask' in commercial reality. Finally, after many years of planning, our dreams have come to fruition.
Due to the generosity of Enertrade, a Queensland power corporation we have been offered ground floor foyer space and cabinets, right in the heart of Brisbane's CBD to display the MHM collection at 61 Mary Street. The display is open during business hours. It is hoped that our ability to display world standard mineral specimens in this central venue will also position us well to attract corporate and private donations of funds and or specimens. |
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Some Past and Present Minerals Heritage Museum Projects | |
 Beryl 250mm x 270mm Triple Chance Mine Near Broken Hill, New South Wales (MHM 0035) |
Part of the MHM's charter is to educate the public to the existence of beautiful mineral specimens. To this end, we have made presentations of first class specimens at many venues including:
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Donors to the Minerals Heritage Museum since its inception: | |
 Cassiterite on Smoky Quartz 170mm x 200mm Elsmore Tin Mine Elsmore, New South Wales (MHM 0052) |
Major Donors
Other Donors
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Related Web Sites: | |
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