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The Grainger Museum, Melbourne is an autobiographical museum located within the University of Melbourne. It was built by the Australian pianist, composer, conductor and teacher, Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961). He was an Australian born pianist and composer of international repute. This unusual museum in Melbourne was built between 1935 and 1938 but the museum was officially opened to the public in December 1938 and it still stands proudly at its original location as one of the major tourist attractions in Melbourne. The Grainger Museum, Melbourne was originally called the ‘Music Museum and Grainger Museum’. Quite popular amongst the various Melbourne museums, the Grainger Museum was primarily conceived by Percy Grainger in the early 1920’s when he mentioned the idea of a museum to an intimate friend in a letter. Eventually, Percy Grainger also took active part in the designing and building of the museum. One will find a strong influence of the ‘Moderne’ or Art Deco style in the design of the Grainger Museum, Melbourne, and a building fashion typical of the 1930’s. The Grainger Museum, Melbourne, champions the spirit of the creative life that Percy Grainger lived. It upholds the thoughts, compositions, recordings, archive and eclectic collection of artifacts belonging to Percy Grainger. The museum is a must visit place while sightseeing in Melbourne. The collection at the museum is vast as well as varied. It includes: - Art Work (include works on paper, sculpture and oil painting, costumes which includes Percy Grainger’s mother’s extensive wardrobe as well as his and his fellow composer’s attires).
- Decorative art and furniture.
- Ethnographic collection (includes various artifacts from diverse ethnic groups collected during Grainger’s concert tours before WW-I),
- Musical Instruments including keyboard, tuned percussion, strings, woodwind as well as certain non-western instruments.
- Photographs including 15,000 images depicting Grainger’s life and social circle.
- ‘Lust Branch’ Collection as referred by Grainger to his collection of pornography, whips and clothing used by him. Also on display are photographic documentation and essays investigating and discussing his sexual expressions in this collection. There are other sections such as the Archives of Australian Composers (showcasing the work of other Australian composers such as Ian Bonighton, Mona McBurney, Leon Caron and Edwin Burchett), Grainger’s personal library and sound archive. Opening hours for the Grainger Museum, Melbourne: Monday- 10a.m to 12:30p.m
Tuesday – Friday- 10a.m to 5p.m. The museum is closed on weekends and public holidays. For access to the archives in the Grainger Museum, Melbourne for research purpose an appointment has to be fixed two days in advance. The Address of the Grainger Museum, Melbourne is: University of Melbourne
Gate 13, Royal parade
Victoria 3010
Australia
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