Gerard Krefft: A Saga of Science and Scandal

On Saturday 21 September 2024, the Australian Museum marked the 150th anniversary of Gerard Krefft's unceremonious ejection from the Museum, honouring his legacy with a fascinating discussion hosted by renowned journalist and author Peter Fitzsimons.

One of the Australian Museum's most memorable curators, Gerard Krefft, a renowned natural scientist, museum pioneer and Australia's first zoologist, helped shape our nation's understanding and appreciation for the natural sciences. His tenure was one of great drama, and following a feisty ideological battle with Australian Museum trustees, a defiant Krefft was unceremoniously ejected from the Museum, still sitting in his chair.

Enjoy this fascinating panel discussion featuring three celebrated Australian Museum figures: Director and CEO Kim McKay AO; former Director Dr. Des Griffin AM; and our Head of World Cultures, Archives & Library, Dr Vanessa Finney, as they explore the complexities of Krefft's life and legacy.

Peter FitzSimons writes regular columns for The Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun-Herald, as well as occasionally appearing in overseas journals, such as the London Daily Telegraph and International Herald Tribune. In his two decades in print, radio and television journalism, he has personally interviewed everyone from President George Bush Snr to Greg Norman to Diego Maradona to Matt Damon, and every Australian Prime Minister from Gough Whitlam through to Kevin Rudd.

As an author, he has written 20 books, including biographies of Nick Farr-Jones, John Eales, Steve Waugh, Kim Beazley, Les Darcy, Nancy Wake and Charles Kingsford Smith. He was Australia's best selling non-fiction author in 2001 and 2004, the latter with his book on Kokoda which has sold over 250,000 copies, while his book on Tobruk, has sold more than 150,000 copies .

Kim McKay is Director and CEO of the Australian Museum and is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the nation's first museum, including a collection of over 22 million natural science specimens and cultural objects. Kim was appointed the Director’s role in 2014 (the first woman in the AM’s 190+ year history) and has since initiated a broad transformation program, including overseeing Project Discover, the AM’s $57.5m award-winning renovation of public spaces.

Prior to the AM, Kim worked in the USA in senior roles for Discovery Channel and National Geographic, co-founded the Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World campaigns and co-authored five True Green books. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Wollongong in recognition of her contribution to science, including her work on environmental and conservation issues, and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Technology Sydney for her achievements in the community, non-profit, cultural, environmental, communications and business sectors. Kim was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2008 for distinguished service to the environment and the community.

Dr Desmond John Gerald Griffin AM, held multiple positions at the Australian Museum over his 32 year career at the institution, including as Director from 1976-1998. Desmond aimed to build the Museum's relationship with local Indigenous Peoples, spearheading several repatriation initiatives, as well as breaking new ground in the inclusion of contemporary First Nations' stories in Museum galleries. Desmond accepted several overseas 'blockbuster' exhibitions for the Museum, whilst also overseeing the development of community relations, education programs and materials conservation.

He authored numerous papers on marine biology, as well as museum management and policy and was chairman of the Council of Australian Museum Associations (CAMA) 1988-1993 and the first president of Museums Australia. Since his retirement, Desmond has continued his passion for pursuing better educational outcomes for young Australians through a series of commentaries and essays on education issues.

Dr Vanessa Finney is the Head of World Cultures, Archives and Library and works extensively in the archiving of the legacies of the Australian Museum. Focusing on early collecting practice and the Museum’s first curators, Vanessa aims to help us understand how and why the Museum became the institution it is today.

She has written widely about the role of photography and natural history art in colonial natural history museums and she curated the exhibitions Transformations: Harriet and Helena Scott and Capturing Nature. Vanessa has recently returned to Sydney from Berlin where she had been researching the Museum’s German connections, focusing on the training and scientific friendships of Gerard Krefft.