The
Museum & Gallery team is very excited to open our newest exhibition,
IF
THESE WALLS COULD TALK: STORIES FROM 14 MACMAHON STREET.
This exhibition, right
from the start, has held a special place in our hearts. It celebrates
Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s tenth anniversary at 14 MacMahon Street,
where it opened on 7 February 2004 as the St George Regional Museum. It has
also given us the opportunity to investigate the history of the house, which
has been so interesting and so much fun!
One of
our greatest finds was the original architectural plans of the building from
1929, designed by Peddle Thorp & Walker, now known as PTW Architects. These
plans (on display in the exhibition) showed us exactly what purposes the rooms
had been used for, answering long asked questions of where exactly Dr Crakanthorp’s
surgery was, where patients sat while they waited for him, and how parts of the
building have (and haven’t!) changed over time.
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| Image courtesy of Hurstville Library Museum & Gallery |
As the
exhibition has an oral history component, we got the chance to meet some of the
previous tenants of 14 MacMahon Street. The owner’s of MacMahon’s Manor flew
from Queensland to talk to us about their memories of running a fine dining and
theatre restaurant. When we went for a walk around the building, we discovered
that their original labels, showing where they stored candlesticks and napkins
could still be seen on what is now our stationary cupboard!
More than
anything though, was the overwhelming fondness people express about this
building. From Dr Crakanthorp’s family home and doctor’s practice, to the fun
times had at the St George Rugby Club; from the good nights at MacMahon’s Manor
to the memories of wedding celebrations, and now as a Museum & Gallery for
the local community, 14 MacMahon Street has seen it all.
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| Image courtesy of Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery |
An
interesting thing we noticed about 14 MacMahon Street while developing this
exhibition was that its door has always been open to the community. We are
pleased to be able to continue the tradition, and invite you to the special
tenth anniversary celebrations and official opening of IF THESE WALLS COULD
TALK on 7 February 2013, 6.00pm for 6.30pm.
Please RSVP: (02) 9330 6444 or email
museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au
Did you know that the first room on the right as you enter the
building was the Crakanthorp’s lounge room? How about that there was a
fantastic bar in the second room or that there used to be a stage in the gallery!
Visit Hurstville Museum & Gallery to discover the stories of 14 MacMahon
Street.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: STORIES FROM 14 MACMAHON STREET will be
on show from 18 January – 11 May 2014 and is proudly sponsored by The Gardens
on Forest.
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