TMAG Redevelopment - Stage 1 Gets Underway

28-Apr-2011 | Over the last few months the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has been preparing for construction of Stage 1 of its redevelopment to commence in September 2011.

Stage 1 of the redevelopment will enable TMAG to make better use of its existing and currently underutilised spaces, including spaces presently not available to the public such as the historic Bond Store.

To ensure TMAG’s Collection items are kept safe during the construction works and gallery refurbishments they need to be packed away, and as part of these preparations several of TMAG’s galleries and public spaces will close to make way for the new developments that will follow.

These preparations take time and the schedule of early works has been designed to allow sufficient time and resources to deinstall existing exhibitions in a manner that ensures Collection items are handled by museum professionals rather than external contractors wherever possible.

Early works began with the removal of the much-loved Muttaburrasaurus from TMAG’s foyer in early March, and since then Collection items have been removed from the Convict, Pacific & Shipping, and Geology galleries and placed into storage. Over the next few months more of the galleries and public spaces will close, and on 1 August the visitor entrance will temporarily relocate to Argyle Street until a new permanent entrance is revealed after the completion of Stage 1 works.

Stage 1 will create a new visitor entrance which will highlight the historic Watergate as a central feature of the courtyard space, and it will reveal much-loved features of the heritage buildings that are currently hidden from public view, including the steelwork within the roof of the Zoology gallery.

TMAG continues to work with State and Federal governments as well as with philanthropists and sponsors to secure the funding required to realise the full redevelopment, and in the mean time Stage 1 will provide improved access and facilities in keeping with the architectural concept plan, and is a tangible step towards realising the vision of a redeveloped TMAG.

TMAG will remain open to the public throughout Stage 1 works however exhibitions and programs will necessarily be restricted due to limitations on space. The completed works and a suite of new exhibitions will be revealed at the beginning of 2013.

Download the TMAG Stage 1 Early Works Media Kit






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