Care for collections

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We hold more than 15 million items in trust for the people of Queensland, irreplaceable treasures that represent the breadth and diversity of our natural and cultural heritage.

Your donation provides support to enable our experts to protect and conserve collection items for future generations to experience. Current projects include:

The Dodd Collection

The spectacular Dodd Collection includes beautifully arranged showcases of tropical insects from Australia and New Guinea, collected by Frederick Dodd and his son, Alan, in the early 20th century. Our entomologists are undertaking conservation work on these delicate specimens to enable the Dodd Collection to be temporarily exhibited in 2023.

Ellis Rowan Collection

Ellis Rowan (1848 – 1922)—acclaimed painter, naturalist, writer and explorer—was an extraordinary Australian woman for her era. For almost 50 years she travelled to remote parts of Australia, India, Europe, America and New Guinea in pursuit of exotic flowers and wildlife to paint. Queensland Museum holds a collection of 125 botanical paintings on paper by Rowan which depict Queensland flora. Due to their age, these fragile works need urgent conservation to stabilise and prevent deterioration. A temporary exhibition of selected works may take place in 2024.

Collections online

We are progressively digitising collections to make them accessible virtually — over 10,000 items in our cultural collection and over 1 million specimens are now available on Collections Online.

Care, conservation and digitisation of these collections is a continual and costly process requiring expertise and dedication.

You can also support care for collections by joining the Guardians of Queensland Museum.