From ceramic cockatoos and hand-painted china to splendid silverware
and historic paintings, Collecting for the Nation illustrates a broad
sweep of Australian history and culture through the stories of the
artworks in The Australiana Fund’s unique collection.
Written by Australia’s most respected authors on architecture, art, and
decorative arts and design, Collecting for the Nation opens the doors of
Australia’s four state houses – the vice-regal residences of Government
House and Admiralty House and, the prime ministerial residences of
The Lodge and Kirribilli House. The Australiana Fund’s collection is a
‘working collection’ selected to be both beautiful and useful – and all
objects highlight an aspect of Australia’s cultural heritage, and bring
to life the intertwined stories of the houses and the people who lived
in them.
