There are over 40 collections across the University of Adelaide, each revealing facets of the University’s illustrious history.

A team of dedicated museum professionals looks after and promotes these collections, running a public program to showcase the creativity and scholarship of the academic cohort over the years to the present day.

We invite you to enjoy our diverse and stimulating cultural program.

If you are interested in contributing to our program, wish to register for events by joining our email list, or would like to attend a cultural tour please contact us: unicollections@adelaide.edu.au

University Collections is a proud member of Museums Galleries Australia and the International Council of Museums

University Collections

collecting, preserving, researching

engaging the community, collaborating and presenting events

supporting and enhancing the university experience

Cultural Events, Tours and Museum entry are free Everyone is welcome

Bookings and EnquiriesTelephone 08 8313 3086unicollections@adelaide.edu.auadelaide.edu.au/uni-collections

Self-Guided Walking Tours adelaide.edu.au/uni-collections/tours

Campus Maps www.adelaide.edu.au/campuses

Tate Museum

University Collections

The Tate Museum was opened in 1902 when the Department of Geology moved into the former Prince of Wales Building adjacent to the Mitchell Building. It was named after Professor Ralph Tate, who at just 35 was the foundation Elder Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Adelaide from 1875 –1901. The Museum moved to its current location when the Mawson Laboratories opened in 1952.

The Tate Museum holds a fascinating range of geological and historical artefacts and is a wonderful resource for school teachers, students and the general public. It is presented and managed by the University of Adelaide’s University Collections and the Department of Earth Sciences.

images Specimens from the Krantz sample box c late 19th century

photography by Denis Smith

September 2018

For more information or to arrange a tour University Collections 08 8313 3086

unicollections@adelaide.edu.au

adelaide.edu.au/uni-collections

Tate Museum Mawson Laboratories North Terrace Campus The University of Adelaide www.adelaide.edu.au/campuses

Open March to November 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday to Friday Free entry

4 Broken Hill’s massive ore body, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among Earth’s largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The Museum’s collection features spectacular minerals from the region.

5 The ‘Broken Hill’ of the 21st century is Olympic Dam in mid-north South Australia. One of the world’s largest deposits of copper, gold and uranium, it also contains a significant amount of silver. The Museum has many interesting specimens from this giant ore body on display.

6 While good quality iron ore had been discovered in South Australia during the 1840s near Iron Knob, the Australian steel industry only began to flourish from 1915 in Newcastle with ore from the Iron Monarch mine. An incredible 164 different minerals, including six previously unclassified, have been identified from this deposit, with many represented in the Museum’s collection.

Antarctica

Special Displays

Minerals

Stratigraphy of South Australia

Diversification of Life

Stratigraphy of Australia

Tate Museum Treasures

1 Meteorites2 Acraman Display3 Ediacara Fossils4 Broken Hill Minerals5 Olympic Dam Minerals6 Iron Monarch Minerals7 Fluorescent Minerals8a Mawson’s Antarctic 8b Expeditions9 Ralph Tate and

Palaentology

8b

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3

6

8a

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Mawson Lecture Theatre

Tate Museum Key to Displays and Treasures

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There are many treasures held in the Tate Museum. The following are just a few of the highlights:

1 Meteorites are strange and beautiful visitors from outer space. The Museum has an outstanding collection of meteorites and tektites from around the world, one of which on display is a 76.9 kg piece comprised of 96% iron.

2 Approximately 580 million years ago, an asteroid slammed into what is now South Australia’s Gawler Ranges, producing a crater up to 40 km wide that is now known as the Acraman Crater. This display tells the story of the catastrophic event with samples of the ejecta now in sediments that became the Flinders Ranges and possibly ushered in the Ediacaran evolution.

3 Earth’s oldest known complex multicellular organisms are called Ediacara biota. The Museum holds examples from the Flinders Ranges, some of which are up to 550 million years old. Discovered by Reg Sprigg, a former geology student of the University, they are the starting point of animal life on Earth.

7 Fluorescent minerals show amazing and hidden talents under fluorescent light: press the button to reveal their full glory.

8 Life as an Antarctic explorer in the early 20th century was a true test of endurance. On display are many geological and historical artefacts from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expeditions (a), including one of the original sledges (b).

9 Ralph Tate was the founding Professor of Natural History (later called Natural Sciences) at the University. A graduate of Cambridge University, he was a former Curator of the Museum of the Geological Society of London. At the University of Adelaide, he taught Geology, Palaeontology, Botany and Zoology. The wooden plaque on display is a tribute by his former students.

For more information or to arrange a tour University Collections 08 8313 3086

unicollections@adelaide.edu.au

adelaide.edu.au/uni-collections