The University of New England Museum of Antiquities

Abstract

The Museum of Antiquities (UNEMA) in the School of Humanities at the University of New England is the oldest regional, and second-oldest museum of antiquities in mainland Australia. Formally established by the Department of Classics in 1959, the vision for the Museum was conceived, and its first purchase made in 1956 by Dr Maurice Kelly. Its collections encompass the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, as well as ethnographic material from Australia, South East Asia, New Guinea, the Pacific region, Mesoamerica, and Africa. The Museum serves as a centre of excellence for the research and teaching of the disciplines of Classics & Ancient History, Archaeology, History, and Indigenous Studies, and has a long tradition in research, publications, grant applications, on-campus teaching, and community outreach. It is overseen by a committee drawn from relevant disciplines in the School of Humanities, as well as from volunteers across the University. Located in the foyer of the Arts Building, adjacent to the Arts Theatre, the Museum's purpose-built facility was developed through a Commonwealth grant awarded in 1988 as a Bicentennial project. In 1996 the Museum's 1000th artefact was accessioned, in 1997 the annual Museum of Antiquities Maurice Kelly Lecture was established in honour of the Museum's founder, and in 1999 the Museum's Charles Ede Essay Prize was also established. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009, hosting regular visits from schools, the regional community, and travellers from around Australia and overseas, and thriving through the generous support of alumni, friends, and donors, the Museum seeks to promote the interest and engagement of the broader community in the history of peoples through the ages.