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Being Mirka: Stories from the Mirka Mora Collection

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Mirka Mora’s arrival in Australia, the Museum invites you to explore our Mirka collection and visit the Immigration Museum from 4 June 2021 to see some of these precious items on display in Being Mirka. A Holocaust survivor and post-World War II migrant, Mirka always remained true to her unique, creative identity and became one of Melbourne’s most beloved and transformative cultural figures.

Mirka Mora Collection at Museums Victoria

Mirka Mora Collection at Museums Victoria Mirka Mora - Brief Biography: Mirka Mora was a post World War II migrant, artist, restauranteur and a leader in the formative years of Melbourne's post-war artistic and cultural urban development. Mirka was born in 1928 to a ...

Embroidered Artwork - Unfinished, Mirka Mora, circa 2000s

HT 55698 Embroidered Artwork - Unfinished, Mirka Mora, circa 2000s

Migration & Cultural Diversity, Working Life & Trades, Clothing & Textiles

Unfinished artwork, pencil drawing and embroidery on calico, made by Mirka Mora in her art studio in Richmond circa 2000s. The work features two classic ...

Art Case - Mirka Mora, Small Brown Timber, circa 1960s

HT 55664 Art Case - Mirka Mora, Small Brown Timber, circa 1960s

Migration & Cultural Diversity, Working Life & Trades, Clothing & Textiles

Alternative Name: Paint Box Art case containing paints and brushes, owned and used by Mirka Mora in her art studio in Tanner Street Richmond from the year ...

Painting Coat - Mirka Mora, Stuart Membery Design, Winning Collection', 1984

HT 55652 Painting Coat - Mirka Mora, Stuart Membery Design, Winning Collection', 1984

Migration & Cultural Diversity, Working Life & Trades, Clothing & Textiles

Painting coat adapted from a Stuart Membery designed jacket. It was owned and used by Mirka in her art studio in Tanner Street Richmond from the year 2000 ...

Explore our collection

Explore a wealth of collections and research about natural sciences, history, technology and Indigenous cultures from Museums Victoria in Australia.

Closeup of old typewritter keys

Articles 2,180 Read about people, places, events, and our collections

Brass pocket compass sundial

Items 111,515 Things made and used by people

Closeup shot of a butterfly

Specimens 1,230,769 Animals, fossils, and rocks in our collections

Closeup of blue coloured bird

Species 1,412 Read about some animals you might see in the wild

Explore the collection on display

Closeup of a taxidermied owl

Melbourne Museum

Closeup of a robot

Illustrated impression of a ship on water

Immigration Museum

Moving sculpture lit up by stage lights

Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Recently modified

<em>Steatornis caripensis</em>

28399 Steatornis caripensis

Ornithology

Common nameOilbirdSpecimen natureMountHigher taxonomyChordata, Aves, CaprimulgiformesCollectedColombia

Motor Van - Ford, Model T, 'Baker's Van', Reconstructed by Science Museum of Victoria, 1972-1979

ST 36792 Motor Van - Ford, Model T, 'Baker's Van', Reconstructed by Science Museum of Victoria, 1972-1979

Engineering, Transport

This replica Model T baker's van was built from new and old stock parts by workshop staff at the Science Museum of Victoria in the 1970s. It is based on an original 1913 Model T chassis. It is currently on ...

Steam Car - Herbert Thomson, Armadale, Victoria, circa 1898

ST 24990 Steam Car - Herbert Thomson, Armadale, Victoria, circa 1898

Engineering, Transport

Four wheel Phaeton, wooden bodied steam car by Herbert Thomson. Originally constructed in 1896-99 and exhibited in Victoria & New South Wales. Thomson operated a business at 835 High Street, Armadale, ...

<em>Pyroderus scutatus scutatus</em>

3187 Pyroderus scutatus scutatus

Ornithology

Common nameRed-ruffed FruitcrowSpecimen natureMountHigher taxonomyChordata, Aves, PasseriformesCollectedBrazil, Rio de Janiero

<em>Polytelis alexandrae</em>

B 32909 Polytelis alexandrae

Ornithology

Common namePrincess ParrotSpecimen natureMountHigher taxonomyChordata, Aves, PsittaciformesCollectedAustralia

T-Shirt - 'Fuck On, We're Empty', Red, circa 2009

HT 23654 T-Shirt - 'Fuck On, We're Empty', Red, circa 2009

Migration & Cultural Diversity, Sustainable Futures

Red t-shirt designed by leakeg, circa 2009. The t-shirt features a white printed map of Australia with the slogan 'Fuck On We're Empty'. This T-shirt is an example of individual ...

Car Model - CN7 'Bluebird', Donald Campbell, Sectioned, 1966

ST 25778 Car Model - CN7 'Bluebird', Donald Campbell, Sectioned, 1966

Transport, Engineering

Scale model of Donald Campbell's 'Bluebird' which set a new world land speed record of 403.10 mph (648.783 kph) on Lake Eyre in South Australia on 17 July 1964. Power was provided by a Bristol-Siddeley ...

<em>Lasiorhinus krefftii</em>

C 6230 Lasiorhinus krefftii

Mammalogy

Common nameNorthern Hairy-nosed WombatSpecimen natureMountHigher taxonomyChordata, Mammalia, DiprotodontiaCollectedAustralia, New South Wales

Pennant - HMS Lydd, Mine Sweeper, World War II, 1940

ST 23427 Pennant - HMS Lydd, Mine Sweeper, World War II, 1940

Public Life & Institutions, Transport

Commissioning pennant of the mine sweeper HMS 'Lydd'. The pennant was flown during the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk, France, 26 May - 3 June 1940. It shows signs of blast damage ...

Cartridge Case - C & H Weston, Brighton

ST 22064 Cartridge Case - C & H Weston, Brighton

Arms

Shotgun cartridge case (unfilled), 16 gauge, centre fire. Brass base, cardboard cylinder. Made by C & H Weston, Brighton, England.

Iula drisia [Club], 1979

X 83567 Iula drisia [Club], 1979

Pacific Cultures

An immense range of weaponry was available to Fijian warriors in their conduct of warfare, which included the ceremonial practice of cannibalism. Wooden objects account for most of Fiji's material culture. Vesi and ...

Iula drisia [Club], 1961

X 50676 Iula drisia [Club], 1961

Pacific Cultures

Clubs were made in a number of forms. This one is a throwing club, known as "i ula drisia" (ball-headed root-club). Clubs were often highly carved, often with "tavatava" (a zig-zag pattern separtated with straight ...