Small Museum - Special Edition

‘‘Small Museum’ is not just a book—it’s a celebration of Australia’s diverse cultural heritage. Nestled in rural communities, these small museums hold stories that deserve to be seen and shared. Through this project, I’m shining a light on these unique spaces, inviting readers to explore the intimate environments where passion and dedication have kept cultural treasures alive. These often-overlooked institutions weave together stories that reflect the rich tapestry of Australian history and identity— offering a reflective exploration of memory, history, and cultural preservation.’

Taking on a typographical format the images in the book show the buildings, people and collections of each of the 35 featured museums. The images are accompanied by the testimony of the custodians who share the stories behind the buildings, people and collections which make each museum so special. Each photograph in the book has a SM exhibit/artifact number creating a small museum within the book to preserve the spaces and buildings Rosenbauer encountered.

The first section of the book focuses on the diverse range of buildings which house the museums—repurposed Telegraph stations in the outback, restored 19th century jails saved from demolition, dormitories for orphaned boys, miner’s banks, pharmacies, accidentally discovered underground hospitals and opal mines. Sometimes, the buildings have a connection to the collections, eg the Apple & Heritage Museum in Huonville is housed in an apple warehouse, other times, the museums have given disused buildings new life.

The photographs of buildings are followed by portraits of the museum custodians who dedicate their time, energy and expertise. Museum directors, curators, adminstrators and volunteers had past careers as teachers, psychiatric nurses, policemen, mayors, social workers, senior lecturer’s in Geology and surfboard painters. The portraits show museum custodians of all ages from different walks of life followed by their stories highlighting the personal connections of museum staff to their communities and local histories.

Rosenbauer’s interior photographs of the creative display of collections demonstrate how the small museums are free from the constraints of conventional larger museums. The images show an elephant foot on a podium, a headless mannequin reclining in a lawn chair, the sparse set up of a recreated jail cell, an austere vault full of currency, a planetarium with a corrugated plastic sky—capturing the atmosphere and unique spirit of each museum.

Finally, a catalogue of still-lifes highlight some of the most cherished or personal favourite objects from some of the museums—a golden nugget, hearing trumpet, toy soldier, a worn-out shoe, a bone and a butterfly. These objects are not selected for academic, historical or monetory worth but due to the value to the individual story of each museum.

The ‘Small Museum’ project has been exhibited by Laurence Miller Gallery, New York at Paris Photo, AIPAD, Expo Chicago, and Art Miami, and was selected for the ReGeneration2 exhibition by the Musée d'Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was exhibited at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Australia in 2024. Over 100 images from ‘Small Museum’ have been acquired by the National Library of Australia for their permanent collection.