Melbourne just scored itself a major new museum for the first time in almost 25 years and it's all about documenting the nostalgia of communication. Housed in a refurbished 1930s telephone exchange in Hawthorn, the National Communication Museum is designed to help kids and grownups alike think about the technology that helps us connect.
From First Nations communication and historical technologies like the Overland Telegraph Line, to the cutting-edge tools of tomorrow, there are plenty of interactive exhibits to explore.
Step back in time to the ’90s (aka the beginning of the ‘information age’) with the Cyber Café exhibit, or check out the speaking clock that was once a mainstay of global telecommunications networks.
Feeling sentimental? Follow the glow to the Lone Phone exhibit, inspired by the beacons that are glowing phone booths seen at night in regional Australia.
The need to catalogue and appreciate our ever-changing communicative tech has never been stronger, according to National Communication Museum co-CEO Anna Prenc.
“To demonstrate the rapid pace and changing nature of communication technology, it’s worth noting that in the time it’s taken for the museum to open, ChatGPT was developed, launched and now has over 185 million users worldwide in less than two years of being on the market.”
So, whether you remember MSN messenger or you grew up with an iPhone, take a trip down memory lane at this new museum. Head to the website for more info and ticket details.