After six months on show, the Spirited horses are returning to their stables and paddocks for a well-earned rest. From 11 September 2014 to 9 March 2015, over 52,000 people visited the Spiritedexhibiton, enjoying a stream of associated tours, talks, holiday programs and events. If you missed the exhibition, National Museum photographers George Serras and Jason McCarthy captured Spirited from every angle so that we can continue to explore, share and reflect on Australia’s horse story.
The Spirited exhibition was arranged thematically by place, with the manufacture and use of vehicles, saddlery, clothing, and breeds of horses particular to each place explored in detail, across a range of time periods. From the station, to the farm, the road, town, track, through the city, on the battlefield, the open range, in the show ring and on the sporting field. While each area was distinct, visitors drew connections as they moved from place to place, following views and flows across the gallery – city and country, race tracks and communities, farms and agricultural shows, work and sport.
The brumby video wall greeted visitors entering the ‘Spirited’ exhibition. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.‘On the station’ exhibits in ‘Spirited’. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.‘On the road’, ‘In the town’ and ‘At the track’ exhibits in ‘Spirited’. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.‘Through the city’ and ‘On the battlefield’ exhibits in ‘Spirited’. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.Exhibits in the ‘On the open range’ theme. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.Exhibits in the ‘In the ring and on the field’ theme. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
As visitors wandered from place to place, many took the opportunity to contemplate Australia’s horse stories, and share their memories with the Museum and other visitors. The feed trough, saddlery, racing, milk cart and show ring exhibits were a few that seemed to generate plenty of comment and discussion. Here is a selection of some of those moments around the exhibition:
In front of the feed trough were a selection of horse feed options for visitors to smell. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
Large projection screens provided archival footage to give some of the large objects context in the space, like the double furrow plough. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
The discovery of specimens of portions of heart wall, aorta and pericardium, believed to be from legendary Australian horse Phar Lap proved a popular part of the exhibits of horse anatomy specimens in ‘Spirited’. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
The life-size chestnut gelding model that stood out the front of Quail’s Saddlery in Cooma. Now affectionately known as ‘Winnie’ to Museum staff, he was a big attraction in the exhibition, on display after his face lift. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
One of the work benches and a selection of tools used in Quail’s Saddlery in Cooma. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
A digitised version of the ‘Coachbuilder Book of Designs’ in front of an 1870s Double Abbott -style buggy. Photo by George Serras, National Museum of Australia.
This exhibit had visitors asking “is it real?” The answer, “Yes!” Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
Visitors enjoyed the ‘Foundation training’ film, featuring Paul McGreevy and Sierra. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
The chance to investigate different types of bits with the ‘In the mouth’ interactive. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
Horse and human mannequin forms, representing endurance champions Brook Sample and Brookleigh Excalibur, supported material donated by Brook and Leigh Ann Sample. The life-like pose was inspired by a photograph taken of Brook and Excalibur during the 2013 Quilty Cup. Both photos taken by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
The Pony Club wall featured photos from pony clubs around Australia, and housed an iPad for visitors to scroll through content from the ‘My Pony Club’ website. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
Although Spirited is now being packed up, and the objects will return to storage or generous lenders, many of the stories will remain available online through the exhibition website and ‘Horses in Australia‘ project website.
Feature image: A view across the middle of ‘Spirited’. Photo by Jason McCarthy, National Museum of Australia.
